Free Topographic Maps and How To Read a Topographic Map

Whether you're a map enthusiast or simply want to plan your next outdoor trip, here's a list of free online topographic maps:

• USA - My Topo (good web usability and navigation)
• USA - Map Server
• USA - OnlineTopoMaps 
• Canada Atlas
• UK - Where's The Path (nice dual view: Google map and topo map)
• UK
• UK - Bing Maps
• Germany
• And The World - Topomapper.com (lots of options and great navigation with a scroll mouse)

Winter Trekking Tour - Barbecue and Caving

Winter kicked the spring back from where it came (Africa perhaps...) but that was no reason for us to stay at home. It was rather an incentive to go outdoors once again for a trekking tour - a simple yet voluptuous treat: to walk through heaps of snow and to breathe the cool, fresh forest air.

My obsession with building a fire has manifested once again and that's how we ended making a little experiment - warming the ground for a bivouac. I heard that nomad Gypsy people used to build big fires and kept them burning for several hours, then they would clear the ashes and place their blankets or tents on the warm spots.

We didn't fell much warmth as we added too many branches as padding but we did feel the ground was hot without the spruce mat.

After that we went to a so called "Ice Cave" (RO: "Pestera de Gheata") which is more like a huge crack in a limestone block - a chimney if you want. There was some ice on the steep floor at the entrance but nothing spectacular that would make it deserve it's name. The icicles on the cliff overhangs and the ice stalagmites were more impressive.

Explore outdoors and seek adventure!

P.S. I cut out the footage took inside the cave as the GoPro HD shoots poorly in low light conditions...

Free Trekking T-shirt Vector Design - The Simple Pleasures

You walk up the mountain, carrying a heavy backpack, sweating a lot but... what for?

There's no ready made answer for such a question. The simple pleasures of admiring the view, lighting a fire and sleeping in a tent are sufficient. Passionate trekkers and outdoors enthusiasts know what I mean.

My suggestion for printing your trekking T shirts and hoodies

Be safe!