The Nomading Film Festival (NoFF) is driven to unite travelers and inspire travel through the magic of film and was started on the belief that traveling shapes us, defines us and connects us. 

We think of travel less as leisure and more as a unique opportunity to explore the planet and engage those living therein, and with today’s technology, we believe anyone with an iPhone, flip camera or point-and-shoot can tell a story worth sharing.

Please join us to celebrate travel, film and to support four great causes: Teen Living Programs, Project Explorer, 100 Cameras and Matador Youth Scholarship Fund.

Raffle includes gear from Nau, Osprey, Klean Kanteen and Holstee.

Beers are on us and tickets are $10 at the door ($5 with Winter Recess day time stamp). In true traveler style, we suggest you bring your own drinking vessel to enjoy the brew and save a cup!

Our DJ will be awesome, so bring your dancing shoes. The more, the merrier.

When: 8 p.m. on January 28, 2012

Where: Boothster — 521 NE Davis in Portland

SPECIAL THANKS TO: 

Hungry for more travel inspiration? Please join us earlier in the day for our west coast debut — Winter Recess — from 12PM-4PM in partnership with Hostelling International, Moon Guidebooks and McMenamins Mission Theater! Learn more here.

“Replace fear of the unknown with curiosity.”

If you’ve clicked around online, you’ve surely stumbled across this image or others like it with the simple, profound phrase: replace fear of the unknown with curiosity. When I first saw it, I printed it out and it’s tacked onto the board above my desk. So is this quote from Eleanor Roosevelt:

“Do one thing every day that scares you.” 

I have these notes and countless others like them surrounding my work space and scribbled into the pages of my journals and notebooks. I’ve been thinking a lot about fear over the last few weeks. Solitude on a sailboat in the Sea of Cortez definitely frees the brain to tackle obstacles that have been buried for months.

I was on the boat with kick-ass filmmaker Andy Maser, a man who is incredibly talented at replacing any fear he may have with curiosity. It’s always fun to watch the wheels turning in another person’s brain… One day we woke up to a large pod of dolphins in a feeding frenzy a few hundred yards from where we were anchored. They were leaping into the air, diving and rounding up what I can only assume was a gigantic school of delicious fish. The dolphins were psyched and so were the dozens of pelicans, seagulls and Friggit birds that were swooping in for a taste of the feast. Andy had barely rubbed the sleep from his eyes when he started pulling on his wetsuit and busting out his camera gear. Before I knew it, he and our good friend Hayden had leapt into the dingy and were racing for the dolphins. Now, I consider myself an adventurous person, but I wasn’t too keen on leaping from my sleeping bag into the open ocean with a pod of very hungry dolphins, especially when I hadn’t even had a first cup of coffee. But I admired the overpowering curiosity that drove those two into the sea of swarming dolphins.

Since I’ve returned to Portland I’ve learned that a couple of my friends rung in the new year on a flying trapeze… what is it like to fly through the air with the greatest of ease? And my friend Ethan Smith (a fabulous designer, mind you) posted this wonderful little video from Skillshare…

The Future Belongs to the Curious from Skillshare on Vimeo.

via Skillshare:

Curiosity.

We’re all born with it. Albert Einstein dubbed it “holy,” Alistair Cooke called it “free-wheeling intelligence.” It’s that piquing force that nudges us to try it again, explore it some more, poke at it, question it and turn it inside out. From the moment we open our eyes, it fuels our existence. With each new answer we find, our world expands and our passions grow.

And lastly, my dog Woody made me think more about curiosity on our walk today. He is one of the most curious creatures I’ve ever known and perhaps one of the most fearless. I spent our jaunt quietly watching him sniff trees and stop to stare intensely at a squirrel swinging from a branch… what if I was that curious? That intensely aware of my surroundings? I swear he teaches me so much about being a better, more patient, more adventurous and curious human every day.

As I get ready to shut down my computer this Friday, I’m thinking about fear and curiosity. Running my own business has been an adventure, it’s been incredibly rewarding and incredibly scary, but today as I think about the year ahead, I’m replacing any fear I have of the unknown path ahead with curiosity. Cheers to the every day adventures.

Happy Friday!

Whether you’re on the hunt for solace and some face time with nature or planning a dinner with friends, cheers to finding just what you need this weekend.

Happy Friday!

]]> http://undersolenmedia.com/blog/friday-faves/friday-faves-finding-just-what-you-need/feed/ 0 http://undersolenmedia.com/blog/causes-blog/give-a-dam-new-video-from-rios-libres-take-action-to-protect-patagonias-wild-rivers/ http://undersolenmedia.com/blog/causes-blog/give-a-dam-new-video-from-rios-libres-take-action-to-protect-patagonias-wild-rivers/#comments Mon, 12 Dec 2011 18:37:53 +0000 Emily http://undersolenmedia.com/?p=2933

Chris Kassar taking the time to say a prayer at the proposed dam site of the Baker River. Patagonia, Chile. Photo: James Q Martin

by Chris Kassar via The Cleanest Line

Every time I kneel down next to a river – even if just for a moment – I swear I can hear it speak to me. I know this probably sounds crazy, but I also know I’m not the only one who hears wise murmurs rising from the ripples of wild waters. For many of us, the rhythm of a river can mesmerize our soul, capture our spirit and force us to really stop and listen.

The Baker River, nestled deep in the mountains of Chilean Patagonia, is no different. I spent weeks walking its banks, riding its waves, and crunching through the epic ice fields that feed it. I even floated over the exact spot where its journey as a river ended and it emptied into the sea – a feat in and of itself given that so many rivers, including my very own Colorado, no longer even make it all the way to the ocean. But, this trip from source to sea was much more than just a fun adventure. We – team Rios Libres – immersed ourselves in the landscape so we could arm ourselves with the knowledge needed to join the fight to protect Patagonia’s wildlands and the people who depend on them.

During our excursion, the mighty Baker spoke volumes and gave us a glimpse into what the world used to be like – full of untamed lands, untouched rivers, intact forests and people who depended on the land and each other to survive. Spending a month at the edge of the world was like traveling back in time to an age when things were simpler and nature remained largely unaltered by the trappings of man.

Unfortunately, the experience we had may not be available for future generations unless we raise our voices and speak for the river. Huge walls of concrete threaten to choke the furious turquoise flow of Chile’s most voluminous river, the Baker and its rugged sister, the Pascua. If allowed, big business will ruin pristine old-growth forests, destroy the gaucho culture and silence the beautiful sound of these waters only to replace them with the disheartening din of ‘civilization’ – bulldozers, power lines, reservoirs and dams… all to provide power for the destructive mining industry in the north.

Timmy O'Neill dropping Class V on the Baker River. Photo: James Q Martin

But this doesn’t have to happen. Perhaps, if we could just sit and listen more carefully, we might hear the river speak and fully grasp the idea that it is more important to protect the river’s power than harness it. Chile has the opportunity to learn from mistakes made in the past; they can act as a model for the rest of the world by seeking alternatives that allow them to gain energy independence while still maintaining the character of Patagonia.

We’ve written about this in the past and our team made an award-winning film called Power in the Pristine that documented our source-to-sea adventure and highlighted the various threats to the region.

So why are we writing now? We’re writing because this fight is far from over and we need your help in giving this river and its people a voice once again. A lot has happened over the past year and it seems that the wild character of the entire region – which was once endangered – is now closer to extinction than ever before. The following video will catch you up on the issue. We hope it inspires you to read on and to act. The river speaks and so can you!

***

Synopsis of recent happenings: In May 2011, the government approved the dams. Tens of thousands of Chileans took to the streets in opposition and six weeks later, the Court temporarily halted all construction due to a pending appeal. This was especially significant since the Court was the only Chilean authority to challenge the project since its inception in 2008. However, in October, the Chilean appeals court ruled in favor of the dam project causing the volley to continue as opponents who want to protect this unique environment brought their challenge to the Supreme Court. In the meantime, the project still requires a permit for more than 1,250 miles (2,000-km) of transmission line to carry the 2,750 megawatts generated from deep in southern Patagonia to the capital Santiago. Earlier this week (Dec. 5), HidroAysen – the company behind the dam project – released initial plans for the powerline and the environmental analysis will begin in March 2012.

Clearly, the fight to protect Chile’s pristine rivers and wildlands is not over; protests continue and polls show that over 74% of Chileans oppose the dams. This Saturday, December 10, thousands will return to the streets in Coyahique and other cities in Chile to show the government that they oppose this decision. If you cannot make the event in Chile, please show your solidarity by taking action through these groups:

1. Rios Libres: Join the ‘virtual march’ to keep Patagonia Wild!
2. NRDC: Tell Chile’s President to stop the HidroAysén project from destroying Patagonia (Learn more)
3. International Rivers: Demand Democracy for Chile – NO to HidroAysén!

The river speaks and so can you!

For more info go to: www.rioslibres.com.

• Anna Brones. You get big high fives for quite a few reasons this week, but especially for becoming my go-to music maven, especially for mashups like this, and this… and this.
• Jenny Nichols. Umm… Wild Love is hitting full steam because of you, hot stuff. So excited to be working with this incredible + creative lady.
• American Rivers. I talk about free-flowing rivers a lot. That’s because I love them, and I get to work with inspiring world changers like the folks at AR.
• Save Our Wild Salmon. Keep on fighting.
• Andy Maser. Thank you.
• ‎”How much of your own heart would you protect?” — Dr. Sylvia Earle when talking about the ocean. Keep up the fabulous work, iLCP.
• Rachel Meyer, Amber Valenti, Molly Downey + Meagan Nuchols. There are no words. You rock.
• Big ups to Gareth, Sam, Courtney, Jeff and the entire Osprey Packs family.
• Justin Clifton. 5Point is going to be amazing. And thank you for posting this video today… gives us all something to aspire to.

Happy Friday!

“If I can only scrape a living, at least it will be a living worth scraping.”

I was fortunate to meet Mickey Smith this spring when he traveled to 5Point Film Festival with his beautiful film Darkside of the Lens. He’s charming, humble, creative and passionate. And amazingly forgiving.

Several of us — you know who you are — decided to get rowdy until 5 a.m. Mickey, jet-lagged and exhausted made his escape, but couldn’t sleep because we were making such a ruckus. So he dragged his blanket into the bathroom and slept in the bathtub. In the morning, instead of being angry, he laughed out loud and called us “legends”. That still might be one of the best compliments I’ve ever received.

“Something I learned from a young age is to arm myself with a grin… letting laughter all at once be my disarmer and my deflector shield for the shit that gets thrown your way.” Apparently, grins and laughter are good to get you through sleepless nights with hooligans as well.

Mickey, we’re quite sure you’re a legend as well. Do yourself a favor: take 20 minutes this morning to watch this film and steep yourself in some of the wisdom that Mickey has to offer.

• Do arm yourself with a grin.
• Do embrace being out of control.
• Do let your weirdness flow free. Go mad and be yourself.
• Do trust in the things you love.
• Do get primal with nature.
• Trust your instincts and run with them always.
• Do use your fears and failures as fuel.
• Do what you love for a living. But be wise with it.

National Geographic has announced it’s annual Adventurers of the Year and we’re psyched to see some familiar faces in the mix. 

For seven years, National Geographic has combed the globe to find Adventurers of the Year, each selected for his or her extraordinary achievement in exploration, conservation, and adventure sports. This year, in partnership with Glenfiddich, we selected men and women who are pioneering innovation in the world of adventure-by reinventing distance hiking on the Appalachian Trail, launching a backyard microadventure movement, skiing the Andes under human power, and much more. 

Here we present our 2012 Adventurers of the Year. Check them out, then vote every day for your favorite in the People’s Choice Award.

Congratulations! And kudos to Fitz Cahall for pulling together the stories so beautifully.

Here’s to all of your explorers out there. Whether you find adventure in your own backyard, or in the far-reaches of the globe, we’re grateful to have people like you continually stoking our collective fire and pushing the limit to bring incredible stories home. We’ll leave you with this wonderful and well-known quote from Steve Jobs…

Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The trouble-makers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules, and they have no respect for the status-quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify, or vilify them. But the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.

Happy Friday!

Image via. And thanks to Jen Woodward who passed it along to us.

Nothing quite like a shot of Scandinavia to get the wanderlust pumping… it just took one look at the Adventure Journal’s Weekend Cabin post this week to have me dreaming of wool sweaters, a raging fire and hot Glögg nestled in my palms. Luckily, this cold, crisp Portland weather is the perfect setting to allow me to stoke my daydream along with the fire. That is until I can make a trip to the north.

And if you want to continue your daydream, just take a few moments to watch this… perfect, chance encounter with a wonder of nature.

Happy Friday!

PHOTO via Adventure Journal, Photographer: Pasi Aalto

Photo: Jon Jugenheimer

It’s time to pop the bubbly! Happy birthday Under Solen!

Over two years ago, after a night of flyfishing movies and while snuggled into a Portland bar with a crew of great friends, Under Solen was born. The idea had been there for months, but it took the perfect storm of fish porn, microbrews and very excited (and convincing) friends to take the leap. And leap we did.

The best part? The people who have rallied around us, and who we have rallied around. Since Day 1, a team of people have been there to leap with us, to steady us, to celebrate with us and cry with us… you wonderful, glorious people, you know who you are, and I thank you for that.

So today, when you pop open that bottle, drink to those fabulous people who are so amazingly solid, or who come in and out of your life for just the right second — and finally drink to yourself — because you freaking rock.

Lots of love and gratitude,

the Under Solen team

PHOTO: via Jon Jugenheimer on the Osprey Packs backcountry adventure. We love you guys!

PHOTO of Marmot Dam explosion via