More from Kim Havell… shredding. Photo: Perpetual Weekend

Unless you’ve been living in a deep, dark cave… You may have noticed that there is a lot of cool stuff going on out there. So, we thought it was high-time we started rounding up some of our faves each week. We call it the Osprey Round Up… Happy Friday!

The season took its sweet time to come in this year, but it’s finally here. Over the last few weeks, mountains have been dusted and in many cases, pounded, with snow and waterfalls have frozen into walls of ice. We’ve got great plans for the next few days — skiing, ice climbing, cycling and hiking our way through this first weekend of February. A lot of great shots of people out enjoying the elements have come our way, so we thought it would be best to put together a quick photo gallery of our favorites to really kick the weekend off right.

Enjoy, and happy Friday!

While footbeds aren’t a replacement for footwear, they elevate the performance of your current footwear, and help replenish the shoe’s original performance levels, lengthening the shoe’s overall life span and saving you money, even after prolonged use.

We’re proud to support two Colorado-based film festivals, 5Point Film Festival in Carbondale and Mountainfilm Festival in Telluride. Although it’s hard to believe, we’ve already rounded the corner into February and spring time is coming up quick, so that means that all of you filmmakers out there better hop to it! Both 5Point and Mountainfilm submission deadlines are fast approaching. Here’s what you need to know to make sure you get your film submitted in time…

5Point Film Festival submission deadline is February 3, but sources say that we’ll see an extension for all of you who need a bit more time to finish off your film. Bonus: no submission fees. The folks at 5Point say, “We believe in your work, not submission fees.” Check out submission guidelines here.

Mountainfilm just announced an extended submission deadline of February 17, so filmmakers have a couple more weeks to spare. Please visit Mountainfilm’s website for submission fees and guidelines.

And don’t miss out on the festivals, coming up in April and May!

It seems the planning, packing, organizing and legistic side of my adventure is always the the most laborious and taxing to my soul.  It is the passion and excitment for change and spontenaety that sets me free from modern ammenities and the comforts of home, although I am most always stopped in my tracks right at the beginning as I find myself relying technology, research, updating gear, umpteen stops at various stores, doctors, banks, libraries, and the list goes on.  By the time I get to the airport with every last accessory and map in tow, Im worn out and proceeding through a fog of theorhetical plans I have made. 

 Here I am at that very point, ready to leave for the bustling international airport in Miami, tired and dazed.  The one major component keeping me awake- the 20 women I am blessed to be leading, teaching, and traveling with for the next four months!  They are, sixteen high school students who have signed up for a semester abroad with an adventure travel and experiential school hoping to hone their spanish trek through the Andes, explore the Galapagos, engage in community service proects, homestays and immerse in history, culture, science, math, journalism and new ideas on what independence can look like! 

We are The Traveling School, all girls school, learning through the experiences we find ourselves in.  We teach all required highschool classes while on the road.  We are comprised of females from all over the United States traveling together for one semester.  With us: one large (stuffed) backpack and one school pack filled with vibrant curriculum, and six gear bags filled with a library of books, tents, white baords, maps and a sat phone.

We’re living with expression and helping to engage these young minds with the world they live in, knowing they will find an incredible new way of thinking.  We have the tools to steer them, although it wont take long for them to have that “AH HA!” moment we all yearn for in life! No doubt it will happen here!!

Thank you to all our fellow adventurers and soul searchers.

No one really sheds a tear for me and the life I live; world class ski touring out my front door at my backcountry ski lodge Valhalla Mountain Touring in the Selkirks of British Columbia. I truly believe though that life is what you make of it, and I wanted to make my life about the pursuit of fun times in the mountains, and sharing those experiences with as many people as possible. So if you can’t be out in the hills with me, than I guess my series of videos is an opportunity to live vicariously through me.  Day in, day out, lodge life, maintenance, snowpack monitoring, trail breaking, wood chopping, eating, skiing and more eating.

As this last video shows, it has been all time, 10 out of 10 for ski quality lately… enjoy.

Evan Stevens is a fully certified IFMGA Mountain Guide, examiner and instructor for the AMGA, a member of the AMGA Board of Directors, and owner and lead guide of Valhalla Mountain Touring, a backcountry ski lodge in the Selkirks of British Columbia. Somehow he managed to do all of this whilst only escaping from the suburbs of New York City just 10 years ago.  When not on his skis, he can be found climbing hard rock in his summer home of Squamish, BC, or trying to fire off alpine rock free ascents through out the world.  Highlights include numerous first descents in the Valhalla Range of BC, traditional rock ascents of up to 5.13, first free ascents in BC such as IV 5.12 Man of Steel in the Adamants, IV 5.12 R Lost in Space on Mt. Gimli, and speed ascents of big walls in Greenland. Besides that he is usually being humbled by his super human wife Jasmin, and trying to keep up to his dog Benny on the skin track.

Alli Rainey is a sport climber through and through. Claiming to have a “one dimensional passion,” Alli loves climbing even in the heart of a cold Wyoming winter. Below, she shares a little bit about her climbing passion and the benefits of climbing close to home – even if it is a little chilly.

Alli Rainey is a sport climber through and through. Claiming to have a “one dimensional passion,” Alli loves climbing even in the heart of a cold Wyoming winter. Below, she shares a little bit about her climbing passion and the benefits of climbing close to home – even if it is a little chilly.

Last week, wildlife photographer Florian Schulz transported us to the Arctic through his collection of beautiful images. We didn’t even have to leave our seats at The Conservation Alliance breakfast at Outdoor Retailer Winter Market to catch the chill of polar wind, hear the cries of migrating birds and feel our hearts thump as we watched baby polar bears fleeing from danger.

via Chris Kassar and Elevation Outdoors:

Schulz is, John Sterling of the Conservation Alliance told us, “a truly gifted story teller who transports us to places we may never otherwise get to visit.”…

He didn’t just “wow” us with images or stories of braving harsh conditions (though he did tell some amazing ones about that). His message was simple, clear, and inspiring: “My connection to the environment is something very emotional; it comes from the heart for me especially now that I have become a dad,” said Schulz getting noticeably choked up when talking about the arrival of his son in December. “I hope we can keep this planet the way it is for a while longer…. Fighting for this is essential.”

On Schulz’s website, he says:

“For many years now there has been strong interest in expanding oil drilling in the Alaskan Arctic, both on land and offshore. Many have considered the Arctic landscape a barren wasteland or a flat, white nothingness.

I take these sentiments as a personal challenge to document an extremely remote and mostly unknown area of North America — for a public that otherwise might never see it. It’s true that at first glance some areas may seem desolate or barren. But those same areas may be teeming with life just days later, with tens of thousands of migrating caribou, or wolves or grizzlies.”

While many of us have never been to the Arctic, as these images show, it’s a special, wild place full of life — and worth protecting. Learn more about what you can do to help protect it by visiting alaskawild.org.

ALL PHOTOS © FLORIAN SCHULZ

Episode One of a web series chronicling SCARPA/SKI TRAB Team Crested Butte 2012 season. In this episode Bryan Wickenhauser, Brian Smith, Jon Brown, and Jari Kirkland talk about their training for randonee racing. Team Crested Butte’s training days last anywhere from two to nine hours and include skiing, touring, climbing and practicing transitions. They stress the importance of interval training as well as resting.

Our Atmos Series for men provides ventilated custom fit for any backpacking endeavor. While friends and co-workers can be great at coordinating their day’s apparel, it may not be appropriate for the adventure at hand… like climbing to the top of a summit in Baja. Our Boys In Tutus are notorious for this. Luckily they chose the right packs, the Osprey Atmos Series.

The series that redefined expectations about weight, ventilation and comfort in backpacking just did it again. New in 2012, our radically updated AirSpeed™ suspension now provides customized fit, with fully adjustable torso length, interchangeable harnesses and adjustable hipbelt fit. It all adds up to an even better fit and greater comfort on the trail.

VIDEO via Red Reel

Ice climbing isn’t limited to the big mountains of the Rockies, but to anywhere water chases gravity down steep hills and cliffs. The numbers of ice climbers are growing, and they are creating their own communities over the course of winter. SCARPA is pleased to help sponsor three festivals that foster these communities, and grow a camaraderie and love of all things icy.

Yosemite. Just the name is enough to set an adventurer to day dreaming. It’s a place that stokes our inner fire, our wildness and gives us the escape we hunger for. For the climbers among us, Yosemite is our mecca. In last year’s story in National Geographic, photographer and climber Jimmy Chin said:

Visiting a Yosemite climbing camp today, you’re just as likely to meet a divorce attorney from Delaware as a wild-haired dirtbag. Walking through Camp 4 one morning, I hear a dozen languages-Czech, Chinese, Thai, Italian-and meet climbers from all walks of life. A young German engineer, grinning ear to ear, has just completed a five-day ascent of El Cap. A barefoot young woman from Denmark, with nose ring, dreads, a tattoo, walks a slackline-a tightrope strung three feet off the ground between trees. A mom and dad from Washington State teach their two kids how to climb. Rock climbing is no longer a fringe sport. It’s mainstream. And unlike the early years, there are nearly as many women as men on the rock…

Whether you’re a climber or not, it’s difficult to dream up a place more awe-inspiring than Yosemite National Park. In fact, it’s difficult to describe in words this special wild place. Yesterday our friends at prAna posted this incredible timelapse video on their Facebook wall. Do yourself a favor; grab your mug of coffee, sit back and watch…

Since the end of the summer I’ve been doing my best to train as hard as possible–long nights in the backyard, climbing all over North America, working on weaknesses, doing everything I can to come to a place of confidence, believing in my ability to climb and compete. Well, it’s here now; months of preparation and commitment have finally come to this point…the first world cup of mixed climbing…in South Korea.

Designed to drive any ski on either side of the resort gates, the Hurricane has been a go-to tool for patrollers, schoolers and slackcountry champs alike for the last few years. Four buckles, interchangeable AFD and lug soles, and progressive flex have given it that universal appeal for skiers who want one freeride boot for everything. So, why not make it better?

Osprey athlete Kim Havell, sent us the link to her latest Salomon Freeski video this morning. We love getting new stuff from Kim, because it gives us a little mental health break in the day watching her carve into big, beautiful powder and also, it makes us jealous — giving us a kick in the pants to get into the mountains even more than we already do. Thanks Kim!

Deep in the Selkirk Mountains of British Columbia Chris Rubens, Elyse Saugstad and Kim Havell put the new Salomon Guardian binding to the test. Beautiful conditions, deep powder and good folks to tour with… just another day at the “office”.

Based in Salt Lake City, Kim Havell began her career in the mountains as an alpine ski coach. From there she gradually made the transition to climbing and ski mountaineering.  Kim has since been an instructor for the San Juan Outdoor School, CVA, and Babes in the Backcountry. She has also tail-guided for H2O Heli Guides, and been a twelve year member of the San Miguel County Search and Rescue Team, with medical and rescue certifications. Kim is the only woman (& one of less than 5 people) to ski the direct couloirs of the infamous Little Wasatch Ridge in Telluride, Colorado.

To follow Kim’s adventures please visit: HavellTravels-The Adventures of Kim Havell Professional Skier or follow Kim on Twitter.

It’s that time again… Outdoor Retailer Winter Market kicks off this Wednesday and we’ve got a great line-up of events and giveaways for you!

Save our Snow Foundation Trivia With Alison Gannett
When: 2 to 4pm, Wednesday, January 18, 2012 ~ All Mountain Demo
Where: Osprey Packs Booth ~ All Mountain Demo at Solitude Resort

Play climate change trivia with Osprey athlete Alison Gannett for a chance to win a Karve sidecountry pack.

Pack Sale for Paradox Sports and SOS Outreach
When: Thursday, January 19 through end of show, or until we sell out!
Where: Osprey Booth #5011

Pick up an Osprey Flap Jack, Flap Jill or Comet daypack for only $30 with $10 of each purchase will be donated to Paradox Sports and SOS Outreach.

Benefit for the Colorado Mountain Club at Brewvies featuring Sweetgrass Productions’ Solitaire
When: 7 to 10pm, Friday January 20
Where: Brewvies, 677 South 200 West Salt Lake City, sponsored by Osprey Packs

Check out Sweetgrass Productions’ Solitaire, enjoy great beer and food, and win a pack. $10 admission gets a beer and benefits the Colorado Mountain Club.

“What Are YOU Wearing Today?” Happy Hour
When: 4 to 6pm, Saturday January 21, 2012
Where: Osprey Booth #5011

Enjoy a White Russian and keep the glass. Meet the girls in white dresses, boys in tutus and environmental mascots. Donate to Leave No Trace, Alaska Wilderness League and Save our Wild Salmon and win great prize packages.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated more than four decades ago, but his profound and passionate words still ring true today.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.”… When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, “Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”

— I Have a Dream Speech, Martin Luther King’s Address at March on Washington on August 28, 1963 in Washington, DC.

Thank you Dr. King and happy birthday.

Unless you’ve been living in a deep, dark cave… You may have noticed that there is a lot of cool stuff going on out there. So, we thought it was high-time we started rounding up some of our faves each week. We call it the Osprey Round-Up… Happy Friday!

We love riding. We really, really love riding. As our tires hit the pavement this new year, we’ve been thinking about all of the incredible rides we have to look forward to and a few in our office have even started making it official, scheduling races and writing down their bucket list of singletrack and road rides they hope to tackle in 2012. But part of what makes our future rides so exciting is the memories of adventures last year: the taste of dirt from screaming down singletrack, the nip of crisp fall air and the feeling of our breath and heart beating as we ride to work each day. That’s why we’re digging this compilation of stories from our friends at Artcrank. Just reading through these got us even more excited to keep pedaling!

via Artcrank:

For four years as a graduate student in Milwaukee, Wisconsin my bike was, in many ways, a necessary evil. It was cheap transportation, it was a set of wheels that didn’t need to be visited every hour to plug a meter, and it took me where I wanted to go on my clock. While 2011 found me stepping away from higher education and a bike-friendly commute, the past year gave me the opportunity to see my bicycle from a different perspective. Instead of being a tool of frugality and pure utility, it became a gateway to the finer things in life.

In 2011, my bike exposed me to overly ambitious single-track, the wonders of a quality chamois, an appreciation of PBR tallboys, all-weather neighborhood rides, a leaner build, and number of friendships that have made my return to the Twin Cities a ton of fun.

So here’s to more of the same in 2012.

These stories are seriously awesome, so make sure to click on over to Artcrank’s blog for the rest of them here and here.

PHOTO via Bjorn Christianson/Artcrank