Here’s a video from Outside Magazine about starting a fire by rubbing two sticks together. Yes, Virginia, it really does work. It’s hard work, takes a long time, expends a lot of energy, and you’ll probably end up rubbing the skin off your hands, but it works. Take a look at this not-so-well-produced-but-at-least-it’s-informative video and try it yourself on your [...]

Yes, I know, I haven’t posted anything in awhile. I assure you, I’m working on some good stuff. I’m arranging to interview some great local bikers, hikers, travelers, and outdoor outfitters in the coming weeks, and will have some cool videos as a result. And new posts are on the way. I have about 20 drafts of articles I’m going [...]

A group of high school students from North Carolina set out to hike more than 200 miles over 16 days on the John Muir Trail, rated the #1 trail in the world by Backpacker Magazine (according to one of the people in the video. I can’t seem to find that fact on Backpacker’s website). I think I may need to [...]

National Geographic puts out some amazing videos. Here is a timelapse of the Northern Lights!

I stumbled onto Trailsauce.com the other day that has some really good backpacking and outdoors content, and as I was looking through some older posts, I found this video. It’s the trailer to TREK – A Journey on the Appalachian Trail, a movie about 4 friends who set out to hike the famed trail. I don’t think there’s much in [...]

When you actually reside in a tourist hot spot, it is very easy to become so jaded as to look down with derision upon the wandering hordes who clog your sidewalks like cholesterol in an artery. We know that their tourist dollars keep our local business afloat and our city from decaying into a ghost town. Yet their stupidity, ignorance, [...]

Here’s a heart pounding POV (point-of-view) video shot for National Geographic using theV.I.O. POV.1.5 video camera. Take a look at how high those rapids are! The best part is when the cameraman rolls his kayak and everything goes black. So cool!

I know you’re wondering, why the title “Part Time Vagabond?” How can one be a vagabond only part of the time? Doesn’t the word “vagabond” in itself mean to be a full-time traveler, on the road, pretty much nomadic? For me, the answer is not all that simple. I’ve had a special affinity for travel since I was a young [...]

Big cities always have something to hide. And when you think of the secrets of a big city, you usually imagine them to be bad secrets. But when it comes to Portland – Maine’s largest city – those secrets are more like hidden treasures. Not many people know about them, but those who do are among a very special group. [...]

Since moving to Portland, Maine, I’ve learned a lot about the history and culture of the area. One of the things that has most impressed me about the Greater Portland area is its system of multi-use trails, operated and maintained by Portland Trails, an organization whose simple mission has the potential to affect a huge number of people while encouraging [...]