Gifted Funds As A Down Payment Option – Mortgages

Yes, Vancouver is the most unaffordable housing market in Canada. But determined home buyers are still trying to get their foot in the door, in order to get in before it’s too late and the lowest rung on that ladder is even further out of reach.

 

The average price for all residential properties in Vancouver is $889,100 ($1.5 million if you want a detached home). And if you want to avoid paying mortgage insurance premiums, you need to come up with 20% as a down payment. For the average consumer, it’ll cost more than 20 years to come up with a down payment, according to a report by Generation Squeeze titled “CODE RED: Rethinking Canadian Housing Policy.”

 

Can’t wait that long? You’d better find some family members who are willing to contribute to your housing fund.

 

Shaun Zipursky, a broker with City Wide mortgage services in Vancouver, says that they’re seeing many more gifted funds than they have in years past, particularly for young professionals.

 

“We’re seeing a lot of clients that are coming in with massive amounts of gifts, six-figure gifts,” Zipursky says. “So families are really trying to help out in keeping their kids in the housing market in the areas that they want to be in.”

 

Showing proof and documentation of gifted funds

 

But even if you are getting a gift in order to buy a home in Vancouver, there are some things that you need to know about a gifted down payment.

The post Gifted Funds As A Down Payment Option – Mortgages appeared first on Gary Wong Realty Vancouver, BC.

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Brookmere by Onni

The Brookmere by Onni, offers a 28 story tower that will rise above West Coquitlam.  Located at 535 North Road, Coquitlam, right in the heart of the new Burquitlam city centre. Brookmere blends Burnaby’s urban vive with the Coquitlam’s neighbourhood spirit.

Brookmere offers several amenities as well including a media room, yoga space, meeting room and 3^rd floor outdoor terrace with several garden plots. The media room is a great place to watch movies or the season finale of Game of Thrones.   On the other hand, the yoga space is a great place to exercise in. You can go to the yoga room and carry out yoga to stay fit or you can simply just go there and exercise however you want to.

Another offering of Brookmere is the party room. The party room comes equipped with full kitchen and dining. The full kitchen and dining is offers you an all exclusive access to kitchen appliances. You can easily cook your favorite meals there. On the other hand, the dining is also a great place to go and sit in and have food in. Aside from these amenities, another great offering at the Brookmere is the professional equipped gym. The professional equipped gym allows you to work out the best free of charge. It lets you exercise and keep your health intact.

Brookmere starts at $269,000 and it has a total of 216 units.

 

The post Brookmere by Onni appeared first on Vancouver New Condos.

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Singapore American School Students Participate In MATE International ROV Competition at NASA Lab

Singapore American School has qualified for the finals of the prestigious MATE International Robotics ROV Competition held at NASA in Houston, TX. The 15th annual Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) International ROV competition takes place from June 23 to June 25, 2016 at the NASA Johnson Space Center's Neutral Buoyancy Lab.

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The Week In Review 239

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own, and you know what you know. And you are the guy who’ll decide where to go.” - Dr. Seuss

News

The OutDoor 2016 is less than three weeks away!

The Andrew Skurka designed Backcountry Quilt from Sierra Designs is now available.

It’s our duty as Americans to protect our national parks for the next hundred years.

Very awesome: Lael Wilcox wins Trans Am Bike Race 2016 in 18 days 10 minutes.

The Ultimate Weekend Warrior.

The Last Bastion of Outdoor Outlaws in the USA.

Three shirts, four pairs of trousers: Meet Japan’s ‘hardcore’ minimalists.

Are You Spending Enough Time Outside?

Sean Conway just finished the longest Triathlon, 4200 miles around Britain. Congratulations!

Big Salewa Photo Contest in which you can win a sleeping bag and tent!

Lili Marlene and misplaced nostalgia.

Discover innovative, ultralight gear from outdoor startups at Garage Grown Gear.

Just today you can get 20% off on gear from Haglöfs, Norrona, Bergans and Peak Performance at Bergfreunde.

Get 30% off on Patagonia gear at the Gear Coop.

Trip Reports

Beautiful: I am not a big wall climber.

Gerald hikes through the Drakensberge [German]

Jackie returns to Montana.

9 Tips to succeed on the PCT.

Adam leaves Alaska - I’ll miss his awesome photos.

Hiking with Lamas in the Ammergauer Alps. [German]

Fun: The art beneath the routes.

Peter enjoyed the 4th part of hos Vigu Sea Kayaking Guide Course.

With the packraft on the Tagliamento.

Backpacking Lake Aloha.

Mike hiked ths Juan de Fuca Marine Trail.

Nine days through the Blackforest. [German]

The Dirtbag Guide to Skaha.

Day 44 on the PCT.

Gear Reviews

Big Gear Outtakes Spring edition post came out this week.

Lael’s Trans Am Gear List.

Check out Christy’s Sierra High Route Gear List.

Raf reviews the RAB Nebula Parka.

Did this article make you want to go outside? Great! Be even more inspired more and subscribe to the Newsletter and follow along on Instagram and Youtube for more outdoorsy updates!

Disclaimer: There are affiliate links in this article to help finance the website. Read the Transparency Disclaimer for more information on affiliate links & blogger transparency.

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Green Building: Understanding the Carbon Footprint of a Log Home

As we learn more and more about sustainability and our impact on the environment, there is an increased focus on building homes that are the less harmful to our planet. In the building industry they determine how “green” a building is by measuring its carbon footprint. It’s important when measuring carbon footprint to take into consideration the entire lifecycle of a home not just how it operates after it’s built. This article will help explain why building log and timber homes are greener, more sustainable and have a smaller carbon footprint compared to steel .

Forests and wood products are powerful tools to help mitigate the impacts of climate change. Source USDA Blog

What is a carbon footprint?

A carbon footprint, the total amount of carbon dioxide and other carbon compounds emitted directly or indirectly. For example, when you drive a car the engine burns fuel and creates a certain amount of CO2. Each vehicle can give off a different amount of CO2 depending on the fuel consumption of the vehicle. To understand the vehicle’s total carbon footprint you need to look at how it was made, what materials it’s made of, how it was transported, the CO2 it emits while you drive it, how long it will last and what will happen after it’s operational. 

Trees Absorb Carbon

As trees grow they clean the air we breathe by absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere and releasing oxygen. One tree can absorb up to 48 pounds of CO2 per year for a total of 1 ton by the time it reaches 40 years old. When a tree is cut down the carbon will remain stored in the tree. Only when the tree is burnt or  when it starts to  decay does that stored carbon start to be released back into our atmosphere. By dry weight, wood contains approximately 50% carbon, so wood used in a building provides physical storage of carbon that would otherwise go back into the atmosphere during the decaying process, thus reducing its carbon footprint.

The Carbon Footprint of a log home

Unfortunately, of the many environmental impact studies out there, only a few of them look at the entire lifecycle of a timber or log home and the way in which it results in a much smaller carbon footprint than steel and cement homes. Steel production alone accounts for around 25% of the world’s CO2 emissions.

“In a wood building, the carbon is kept out of the atmosphere for the lifetime of the structure—or longer if the wood is reclaimed and reused or manufactured into other products. Wood stores more carbon than is emitted during its harvest, production, transport, and installation—even when transported over great distances.”

Utilization of Harvested Wood by the North American Forest Products Industry, Dovetail Partners Inc., 2012

Wood is the only major building material that is renewable and sustainable over the long term, while also being superior to steel and cement in nearly every environmental impact category. As such, log and timber homes are one of the most sustainable forms of construction, lasting substantially longer than conventional homes, and using almost 4 times less fossil fuels in manufacturing than a conventionally framed home. They are among the most energy efficient homes built today.

In addition to the wood itself, there are number of other ways that building a log or timber home reduces its carbon footprint:

1. Smaller Footings

Because wood is a naturally lighter building material, log and timber frame homes don’t require as deep and extensive concrete footings as conventional brick homes, which can save up to 11.5 tonnes in CO2 emissions.

2. Less Reinforcing Steel

Smaller footings also mean less concrete, and therefore a lower use of reinforcing steel. This reduces both the foundation costs and the carbon footprint.

3. Low Thermal Conductivity

 

Timber has a much lower thermal conductivity than brick, which means that there is much less transfer of outside temperatures into your home, providing more efficient temperature regulation.

4. Energy Efficient Insulation

 

Log and timber frame walls can be easily insulated with energy efficient materials, reducing heating and cooling costs throughout the year.

5. Reduced Embodied Energy

 

The overall production and transportation of timber to your home’s location takes much less energy than producing and transporting brick and other conventional construction materials.
If minimizing your carbon footprint is a priority for you when building your home, a timber or log home may be a great option for you. Check out our Log Home Galleries and Log Home Plans to give you some different ideas and concepts, and feel free to contact us if you have any further questions.

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Gear Outtakes Spring 2016

Bite-sized gear reviews, spring edition.

Gear Outtakes is a seasonal collection of kit and what I think about it.

★☆☆☆ Mediocre, I wouldn’t spend money on it.

★★☆☆ Good, but there are better options.

★★★☆ Great, worth your money.

★★★★ Outstanding, the benchmark of its category.

DISCLAIMER
Some of these products have been sent to me for free by the manufacturer.

Black Diamond Alpine Start Hoody

★★★★
150€, available at Amazon.com, Backcountry.com, Bergfreunde, Bergzeit (On Offer!), Campsaver.com and REI

I have reviewed the Alpine Start Hoody before, but I felt that after another two years of intensive use it’s time to highlight once more how much I love this wind jacket. I use it almost daily, when out with the kids, cycling, and it is the first thing that I pack when I go hiking & backpacking. After so many years it is not so water-resistant anymore (even when I clean it regularly with special detergents), but it still holds the wind out like a king. There’s a little hole in the left sleeve where I was bushwhacking, its a bit dirty at the cuffs from the almost daily use, but other than that I still love this jacket heaps and I’d be my first recommendation if someone is looking for a wind jacket/ softshell. / 204 g in Size M

Arc’teryx Alpha FL Jacket

★★★★
350€, available at Amazon.com, Backcountry.com, Bergfreunde and Campsaver.com

The Alpha FL Jacket is an ultralight Gore-Tex Pro hardshell which is made for fast & light alpinism, and hence is great also for ultralight backpacking. Sure, there are even lighter hardshells out there, but this is such a great fitting jacket for me that I don’t think I need to continue the hunt. It takes all the abuse I throw at it - from jamming myself into a crack in the rain to hiking through the undergrowth - which I like a lot. The sleeves are a wee bit longer and so keep the hands dry when gloves stayed at home, the one pocket is again useful for some small items like my camera, and if not needed it packs down to a volume of one litre and disappears in the pack. There’s noting superfluous on this jacket, it allows me all the crazy moves I could come up with and looks good - what else do you need from a hardshell? / 270 g in Size S

Patagonia Nano-Air Hoody

★★★☆
€, available at Patagonia, Amazon.com, Backcountry.com, Bergfreunde, Bergzeit, Campsaver.com and REI

I have used the Patagonia Nano-Air Hoody now over a year, from hiking the IAT in Ireland over ski-touring to spring and summer hikes across the globe. It’s in combination with the Alpine Start Hoody currently my most worn insulation layer, though it’s really a breathable insulation layer as it is made from Patagonia’s FullRange material (think Polartec Alpha). It’s a super-stretchy piece, not wind-resistant but in combination with a wind jacket a great layering piece. I have been sceptical about breathable insulation materials, but after a week-long autumn hike in the rain and sleet of Sweden I was convinced. It’s great to have a piece on that keeps you warm when you stop and doesn’t heat up too much when you’re moving, especially in wet and cold weather. In warmer weather (anything over 10°C for me) it’s too warm, though, and I’ll shed it as soon as I start to feel too hot. It’s not too warm on its own either, but with a wind jacket or hardshell on top it’s a good insulation piece. With four pockets it’s also good for keeping stuff close by (snacks, camera batteries and a gas canister when you get closer to camp). The shell material is pretty sensitive, though, so bushwhacking in it will destroy it in no time, as will intense rock contact. / 352 g in Size S

Arc’teryx Satoro AR Zip Neck LS

★★★☆
150€

The Arc’teryx Satoro AR Zip Neck LS isn’t available yet in the shops as it launches in the autumn. I was given one when I visited Arc’teryx in Vancouver for the Procline Ski Boot and Voltair Airbag Launch, and have used it ski-touring and hiking over the last six months. Made from Merino wool and a synthetic core it combines the benefits of the two materials. The baselayer has a great fit for me (as have all Arc’teryx pieces with an Athletic cut) and I like the feel of the material on the skin. It stays odour-neutral pretty long, five or six days is no problem. The little chest pocket is good for e.g. a camera battery and SD card, and the long front zipper is great to dump heat. The price is pretty steep, though. / 202 g in Size S

Black Diamond Coefficient Vest

★★★☆
120€, available at Amazon.com (for $60!)

The from Coefficient Vest Black Diamond is not easily available anymore and that’s a sad thing in my opinion. For ages I have been a fan of vests, and this fleece vest is a really great layering piece in all seasons. Ski-touring in winter, hiking in spring and mountaineering & backpacking in summer, the Coefficient Vest has been a faithful companion. The Powerdry fleece ist toasty warm and wicks sweat further away to the outside, and it’s pretty warm for its weight, too. It’s a slim-fit piece that’s slightly longer so especially good in winter. / 225 g in Size S

Norrøna falketind longsleeve

★★★★
80€, available at Backcountry.com, Bergfreunde and Bergzeit

More of a urban outdoor piece for me is the Norrøna falketind longsleeve, a beautiful and super-comfortable longsleeve. Made of drirelease wool which is a mix of wool and Polyester it is soft on the skin, and the Polygiene finish ensures it stays odour-neutral for a while (two to three days in use, I’d say). It’s simply a pretty longsleeve that feels great to wear, and a basic for me when I’m on a business trip. / 162 g in Size S

Eagle Creek Pack-It Spectre

★★★☆
14€ - 27€, available at Backcountry.com, Bergfreunde, Bergzeit, Campsaver.com and REI

The Pack-It Spectre Cubes ensure everything stays orderly in my pack or duffle when I travel. Especially If I travel only with my backpack I love to take one or two of these, as I can fit all I need in them, compress the content even further and at the hotel can just pull all my clothes out in one go. The Silynlon cubes are highly-water-resistant and their different shapes and sizes mean you can get the ones that suit you best. I have a compression cube and a smaller half cube in which I can fit garments for ten days without problems (they help in packing less, but I still tend to come home with one or two shirts I didn’t wear). A useful organizing tool if you don’t want that your underwear is seen by everyone if you get something out of your backpack! / 19 g for the Half Cube, 57 g for the large Compression Cube

Marmot Mono Pant

★★★★
90€, available at Bergfreunde (On Offer for 43€!) and Bergzeit

I love climbing pants because they’re comfortable and allow for freedom of movement. And if they are as comfortable and cool-looking as the Marmot Mono Pant you can’t go wrong really. The deep pockets are great for phone, wallet and keys and there’s also a brush pocket for when you’re working on your boulder project. Great for climbing and bouldering they also work very well in the city, and as my feel-good pants they have seen a lot of use during the last year. The material is breathable yet durable, and even super-hot summer days allow you to stay cool in these. The leg cuffs an be adjusted in width so you can see you’re foot placements, too. / 325 g in Size S

Arc’teryx Gamma Rock Pants

★★★★
150€, available at Amazon.com, Backcountry.com, Bergfreunde, Bergzeit (On Offer!) and Campsaver.com

At the Arc’teryx Academy in Chamonix I got the Gamma Rock Pants and immediately fell in love with them. They are light, durable, comfortable, water- and wind-resistant, have two zippered pockets, allow for great freedom of movement and even have an integrated belt. I have used this on pretty much every 3-season hike and climb in the last twelve months, from climbing and Via Ferratas in the Dolomites to mountaineering in Macedonia last month and hiking in Austria. If you look for just one pant for all your activities take a good luck at these trousers, as they Rock! / 299 g in Size S

Arc’teryx A2B Chino Pants

★★★☆
110€, available at Amazon.com, Backcountry.com, Bergfreunde, Bergzeit, Campsaver.com and REI

Another more lifestyle oriented pair of pants, the A2B Chino Pants actually are made for the bicycle commuter. If you roll the trouser leg up reflective details appear, and the material is water-resistant. A zippered side pocket ensures something important like your phone doesn’t drop out of your pocket. The two hand pockets also are good for all the other stuff you carry along. It’s a good looking pants that is at home in the city, but thanks to the bicycle cut it also is alright for medium-length rides around town. If you need a business-like pants that also allows you to ride your bike, check this one out. / 305 g in Size S

BUFF High UV Buff

★★★★
18€, available at Amazon.com, Backcountry.com, Bergfreunde, Bergzeit, Campsaver.com and REI

The BUFF really shouldn’t need an introduction I reckon. I got the Anton Krupicka High UV Buff as I like the print of the Flatirons on it, but with hundreds of prints you will find one that suits just your taste. These are the UL multi-use items: From it’s intended use as a piece of headwear you can convert it into a pot holder, water filter and towel. It’s a super useful item, and in these sunny summer months the High UV version keeps you from burning your head. / 39 g

Arc’teryx Neutro Visor

★★★★
25€, available at Backcountry.com, Bergfreunde and Bergzeit

In case a Buff and shades are not enough sun protection, then a Visor is a good way to keep the sun out of your face. The Neutro Visor from Arc’teryx is flexible, light and a nice piece for more sun protection. I can roll it up to the size of an orange if not needed and pack it away into my running short’s back pocket, and it also keeps reliably the sweat out of my eyes. / 40 g in Size S

VIVOBAREFOOT Gobi II Hopewell

★★★★
150€, available at Amazon.com (for $79!)

Sometimes there are occasions or seasons where trailrunners or sandals are not appropriate and I need to wear proper shoes. The Gobi II Hopewell from VIVOBAREFOOT are these shoes for me, and best of all: They are proper barefoot shoes, with a wide toe box, and medium to narrow heel, a grippy sole and they look the part. A lovely pair of shoes from the guys at VIVOBAREFOOT, sadly sold out at the moment, so if you see a pair somewhere try them on and see if they suit you. / 521 g for the pair in EU Size 42

adidas terrex X-KING

★★★☆
160€, available at Amazon.com and Bergzeit

New trailrunners with an awesome sole - YEAH! The terrex X-King sport a sole from Continental, the car and bicycle tire manufacturer, and promise to give you superb grip. Well, I ran down muddy mountains in these and didn’t slip, sprinted over icy and snowy trails and walked up on rubble paths, always with great grip. The Speed Lacing is great (though I made the one shoe a wee bit too short almost) and also otherwise this trailrunning shoe with the low drop allows for a great feel on the trail. That’s thanks to the Mountain-bike-inspired “tyres for your feet” design that’s directly moulded to the upper for added stability. They’re great for hiking, too, if you’re into fast & light shoes with great grip. / 567 g for the pair in EU Size 42

Outdoor Research Seamseeker Gloves

★★★★
48€, available at Amazon.com, [Backcountry.com]http://bit.ly/28Ppq0z(), Bergfreunde, Bergzeit (On Offer for 16€!) and at Campsaver.com

I have used the Outdoor Research Seamseeker Gloves for belaying and Via Ferrata hikes and have found them great in 3-season use. Especially on hot days in the Alps the open finger tips and breathable upper are comfortable and preferable in my opinion over a normal glove. The gel padding in the palm does run hot on long rappels, but otherwise they do their job well. Useful side effect: Hands get less dirty! / 98 g for the pair

Black Diamond Magnetron RockLock

★★★☆
25€, available at Amazon.com, Bergfreunde, Bergzeit, Campsaver.com and REI

I bought a pair Black Diamond Magnetron RockLock carabiners about three years ago, and both have seen constant use in that time. One is connected to my PAS (see underneath) and the other one is with my belay device. I like that they’re easy to operate in any season with one hand, with our without gloves, don’t freeze when ice climbing and are big and hence lie good in the hand. The gate opens wide for easy clipping, too. I have a bunch of HMS carabiners, but these two are my favourites for their ease of use. / 82 g

Metolius PAS 22

★★★★
50€, available at Amazon.com, Backcountry.com, Bergfreunde, Bergzeit, Campsaver.com and REI

PAS stands for Personal Anchor Sysyem, and if you do Multi-pitch or alpine climbing then you probably know what this is. You clip into the stand (belay) with it, and the beauty of the PAS from Metolius is that the six loops all have a breaking load of 22 kN. The length is adjustable to your needs at the belay and can be long or short, and each loop having such a high breaking load means more security. It’s also light and stores compact when climbing, so for me a better system than a Daisychain or a 120 cm sling. / 76 g

Scarpa Furia

★★★★
145€, available at Amazon.com, Backcountry.com, Bergfreunde, Bergzeit and Campsaver.com

The Furia from Scarpa is a climbing shoe for bouldering and sports climbing. I found the VIBRAM® XS Grip2 sole great for slabs and small holds alike, and friction climbing in them is a lot of fun. The toe is covered with rubber on top, too, which makes it great for toe hooks, and the heel is also covered in rubber for heel hooks. Inside it feels very comfortable and even in hot weather (25°C+ in Greece, for example) it remains comfortable. The two Velcro straps allow to adjust the shoe great to my foot, and the two straps in the back make it easy to pull the shoe on and off. It’s a more advanced shoe so beginners probably want a less aggressive shoe than this one, but if you’re climbing hard then this shoe is right for you and can help you to solve a hard boulder problem or succeed on a hard sports route. / 366 g for the Pair in Size 40

Grivel Mega K6G

★★★☆
18€, available at Backcountry.com and Bergfreunde

The Twingate carabiners from Grivel are awesome, a real innovation in the climbing carabiner market. Grivel thinks they’re just as safe a a screwlock carabiner, and I think I agree. Things must be pretty dire for something to open this in a situation, but they’re easy to use with one hand (without gloves) on the other hand. I use the one I have in different situations, and Grivel suggests you could use it from building a belay to clipping into one. It’s a tad heavy for alpine use, but works well on Multipitch climbs et al. / 76 g

SCOTT Obsess ACS Sunglasses

★★★☆
80€, available at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk

I like sunglasses and use them year-around, almost every day. The Obsess ACS from Scott I can wear without problems for 12 hours straight, so comfortable they are. Made for small to medium faces they fit me very well. The mirrored glasses in red also are surprisingly scratch-resistant and they haven’t gotten a single one in the 9+ months I now have them in use. Developed as bicycle glasses they work equally well for skiing and hiking as well as strolling through town & travelling. They’re pretty affordable, too, for such good shades. In some situations they do fog up a bit, but if I take them up it really just takes six seconds and they’re clear again. Great shades for just about any outdoor adventure. / 27 g

Montane Softflask 500 ml

★★☆☆
25€, available at Bergfreunde

At 25€ the 500 ml Softflask is far from being a bargain. It’s also not particularly light in terms of weight-to-volume. But it’s easy and convenient to use - both for drinking as well when storing the empty bottle, as it takes up just a wee bit of space. If you need a light-ish softbottle give the Softflask a look and decide if you want one. / 30 g

Disclaimer: Some of the gear was sent for free to me. This does not influence the article as I maintain full editorial control of the content published on this site. There are affiliate links in this article. Read the Transparency Disclaimer for more information on affiliate links & blogger transparency.

from Hiking in Finland http://ift.tt/28SDeXV

SAS Students Win Awards in 2016 National History Day Finals

This month, 14 Singapore American School students traveled to the University of Maryland, College Park in the US to compete in the National History Day finals. Each of our SAS projects competed against approximately 100 other projects from across the United States, which were the top two from each state.

from Singapore American School http://ift.tt/28Lr7HN

#OutDoorFN 2016 is a go!

Just three more short weeks until the OutDoor 2016 kicks off in Friedrichshafen, and I’m already pretty psyched for my fourth visit to the trade show at Lake Constance. Read more on why this year the OutDoor is set to be even more awesome than in the previous years!

Where to go?

I have a short list of must-visit places & companies I want to check out at the fair - from the Trend Lounge and Black Diamond over Petzl to Adidas Outdoor, as well as the usual suspects Arc’teryx, RAB and Scarpa, plus a few more. But is there a company you - yes, you reading this! - would like me to visit? With 960 exhibitors from 40 nations the list is long, so if you’re curious about a specific company why not let me know in the comments which company you think I should check out and I will swing by them at the fair to check them out & report on their kit!

Bloggers are welcome at the OutDoor!

The best thing for me at the OutDoor has always been meeting the people: The contacts you exchange emails with at the companies and PR Agencies, meeting athletes and of course my fellow bloggers and Social Media mates. So I’m pretty excited about the OBN Blogger Base, which allows me to work & meet fellow bloggers from across the globe. Best of all: OBN organizes every day an OBN_talk where you can learn about topics which are important to us, and the Blogger Walk across the fair promises to be a good way to meet new companies, too.

If you’re an outdoor blogger you totally want to get accredited as a blogger for the fair, as it has a lot of benefits - from access to the Blogger Base to the Blogger Breakfast. And best of all: It’s free for us outdoor bloggers! Apply now for your Blogger Pass, and then comment and lets meet up at the OutDoor!

And already now and during the fair you can follow the Hashtag #OutDoorFN on Instagram and Twitter for real-time updates on the fair. I’m sure it will be super busy once the 13th of July comes around!

Disclaimer: I am a co-founder of the Outdoor Blogger Network and am involved with the OBN activities at the fair. This does not influence the article as I maintain full editorial control of the content published on this site. Read the Transparency Disclaimer for more information on affiliate links & blogger transparency.

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Impressions from the Bregenzerwald in Vorarlberg, Austria

I wanted to take my family on holidays to Austria so I could share my passion for the mountains with them. While it rained unreasonably much, we still had a great time and enjoyed the mountains, hills and meadows of the Bregenzerwald in Austria.

The clouds would hang a lot over the local hills of Mellau, the small village where we stayed.

On our first day in the area we had some nice, hot sunshine in the morning, though.

And we rode on a narrow-gauge train, which our son loved.

When there was no end in sight of the epic downpour we took the bus to Dornbirn and visited the superb innatura museum, which we all enjoyed heaps.

On another rainy day we visited the cheese and cosmetics manufacturer Metzler Naturhautnah, got to pet goats and eat their delicious cheeses.

On the next sunny day we went on the Natursprünge Trail in the Brander Valley close by where the views were superb.

It was tempting to just sit in the sun and drink tasty drinks that day, for sure!

Rain and clouds didn’t stop us to go barefoot hiking in Bizau, either.

Especially if you can eat Kässpätzle afterwards and sit out the rain =)

And even in the rain we took the gondola up the local mountain and enjoyed the cloudy views. More on all of these wee family adventures soon here on the blog. But if you can’t wait for the trip report you can view more photos in the Flickr Album or check my photos on Instagram account for a whole bunch of photos and anecdotes!

Disclaimer: I thank Tourism Vorarlberg for the invitation to their region. They helped with getting there, accommodation and activities, but as always this does not influence the article as I maintain full editorial control of the content published on this site. Read the Transparency Disclaimer for more information on affiliate links & blogger transparency.

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The Week In Review 238

“What are men to rocks and mountains?” ― Jane Austen

News

Did you know that every second AT thru-hiker carries an ULA Equipment backpack? Now you do!

With the Luminoodle Light Rope you get a flexible and waterproof lightsource - ideal for tent and camp party use!

Enter to win a super-sweet Hyperlite Mountain Gear Expedition Kit!

The Santa Monica Mountains’ 67-Mile ‘Backbone’ Trail is open!

Yo blogger colleagues, tired of the same old font on your blog? Good news: Google Fonts are free, easy to use and the website has just been re-designed to look mighty swell.

Kathrin answers Corinna’s 11 questions before her LEJOG. [German]

Trailblazer Interview with Jotaro Yoshida.

Human Remains in Jungle likely belong to missing adventurer Cody Roman Dial :(

The Grizzly Belongs on the Endangered Species List.

The Synthetic Black Rock Gear Hat is out!

Making the outdoors accessible for people with different abilities.

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Trip Reports

Ruth Gorgeous: multi-sport in the Alaska Range.

Sven and his daugther visited OAS Kids 2016. [German]

The Frayed Atlantic Edge.

Peter went for a canoe overnigher with the kids.

Exploring the Lammermuir Hills.

A quick glance back, before facing the music.

The pass of the flagstones.

Day 37 on the PCT.

Dent de Hernes, a lonely 4000 m peak. [German]

双六岳 3日目. [Japanese]

The Fulufjället Sufferfest.

The British are on Tour.

Gear Reviews

Paramo Cambia Brief Review.

A cool Camp Coffee Brewer Face-off.

Dave reviews the LaSportiva Bushido.

Amy suggests you ditch the Panniers for a Bike Trolley.

2016 ZPacks Duplex Tent Review.

A look at the Oveja Negra Super Wedgie.

The NEMO Bikepacking Kit.

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