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.

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.

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

Love from under solen

I saw a post from a friend on Facebook as the news spread of Steve Jobs’ death and all that it said was “iSad”.  This simple and clever post made me laugh while the rest of the world was/is mourning the passing of an exceptional thinker. From this laughter came deep gratitude for all of the people that are in our lives and who fill it consistently with smiles, hope and grace.

I will borrow Steve Jobs words and Rihanna’s song (to be played extremely loud — don’t be ashamed) as we raise our glasses to YOU as we venture into another beautiful weekend:

“Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes… the ones who see things differently — they’re not fond of rules… 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 ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.”  — Steve Jobs

Thank you to the brands who carefully select and build products that truly stand for something and better our world in some small or large way. Cheers to the musicians and filmmakers who bare their soul each and every time a microphone or camera covers their face. Thank you to the non-profits who exist out of pure passion for something that needs to be believed in. Cheers to the silent leaders that fill our world, I trust that your voices will be heard in those times of need.

We honor and send high fives out to you ALL!  HAPPY FRIDAY and we hope that you ROCK OUT HARD THIS WEEKEND!

So what is Wild Love?

Good question. Well, it began with a story that I told my friends in the outdoor community, which grew into a trading of wild, incredible tales about love, loss and passion for adventure. In digging deeper into the adventure community over the last few years, I’ve found stories that are aching to be told. So this fall we’re hitting the road to capture just a few of the gems through words and images.

In a community that is renowned for pushing the limits, many times it’s a climbing partner, a lover or a group of friends that grounds, challenges and supports a person to take on the extreme—to push their bodies, minds and lives to the limit. But at the end of the day, it’s all about love: a wild love for adventure, love for each other and an insatiable love for living that keeps them going. And that’s the story we aim to tell.

First up, we’re visiting mountain guide Jake Norton and his family in Golden and then the one, the only Timmy O’Neill in Boulder. Stay tuned to the Wild Love site for updates… it’s bound to be a wild ride!

I’m in Charlottesville, Virginia this week for the LOOK3 Festival of the Photograph. Turns out the festival isn’t just about peace, love and photography… it’s also about escaping this insane hotness. Seriously, it gets hot as hell over here on the East Coast in the summertime. Something I can sometimes forget as a girl from the Pacific Northwest. But this week I’ve taken a tip from my Southern friends: move (a lot) slower, sip on a cool drink all day long and find a sweet, cool swimming hole to dip into whenever you can.

I’m staying with my good friend and iLCP wunderkind Jenny Nichols while I’m here. Ms. Nichols is a smoothie-making machine. Upon arrival, jet-lagged and loopy, Jenny handed me an incredible concoction of coconut, cacao nibs, banana and almond. That and a shower fixed me right up. With it being so crazy hot, we’ve swapped out many sit-down meals with cold, smooth meals in a glass. Here’s a couple of recipes to get you started… keep in mind, the key is to not measure out your ingredients. Let your taste guide you and throw in whatever you can find in your kitchen!

Jenny’s Coconut + Cacao Awesomeness

1 or 2 bananas (you can peel and freeze banana chunks beforehand to make your smoothies a bit thicker)

A handful of cacao nibs

A handful of almonds

Coconut water — add enough to blend up the other ingredients smoothly

If you want to get a little spicy, shake in some cinnamon or if you’re feeling really crazy, give it a kick with some chili pepper. Yum!

Jenny’s “We’re Driving to Charlottesville” Fruity Breakfast

1 or 2 bananas

LOTS of berries: try a mix of whatever you have on hand or have a craving for… blueberries, strawberries, raspberries…

Frozen peaches

Orange juice — add enough to blend up the other ingredients smoothly

Want to make it more healthy? Try throwing in some kale or spinach for a green boost. And for a protein and omega kick, try hemp seed powder or flax seeds.

It’s no secret that coffee gets me through my day, so this time of year, I turn to gloriously tall glasses of iced coffee. Sprinkle a little cinnamon on top and oh boy does that tasty drink give me the pick-up I’m looking for. So, I was really excited when I found this fabulous recipe for Vietnamese Coffee Popsicles. I like to avoid cow milk, so here’s my version of the recipe…

1 big French press full of strong black coffee

Honey

Coconut milk

Popsicle mold

Boil water and make a big French press full of strong black coffee. Pour still hot coffee into a bowl and stir in honey to taste. Pour in coconut milk until the coffee lightens a bit. Keep in mind you want your pops to be more creamy than icy, so make sure you add enough coconut milk. This is your first layer.

Pour enough coffee into each pop to fill the pop ~1/3 full. Place popsicle sticks in pops and freeze for a couple of hours until firm.

Add a few more spoonfuls of coconut milk to the coffee. Cover and refrigerate while the first layer is freezing.

Next, fill pops to ¾ or so. Freeze again for a few hours.

Mix the remaining coconut milk with the honey until it is thick and sweet. Top popsicles off with the mixture, leaving an inch or so of popsicle stick sticking out from the top, and freeze one last time.

Unmold pops by running under warm water for a minute or two. Enjoy before they melt!

Happy summer and happy Friday!

It’s no secret that we LOVE Mountainfilm. Like, we really love it. It’s not just about the inspiring films and people that we see here, it’s about the community that this festival represents. We’ve spent the last couple of weeks in Telluride and we’ve had a chance to get to know some of the Mountainfilm family better. A major shout-out and high-five to Jenny Jacobi (above left) and David Byars for letting us crash their home for the last week. You two are fabulous! And of course, we have to give another shout to our new BFF Justin Clifton for throwing down with us here, There… and everywhere!

If you’ve ever been to Mountainfilm or have seen Mountainfilm on Tour or have just been inspired by anything Mountainfilm-related, we’d love to hear from you… How have you been inspired? Throughout the festival, we’re collecting photos of people telling us just that. If you’d like to take part, just grab a whiteboard, a slice of cardboard or a piece of reused paper and tell us: Mountainfilm inspired me to… and upload it to the Mountainfilm Flickr site.

Stay tuned to the Mountainfilm site for live updates from the festival, and we’ll post a wrap-up here next week!

It’s no secret at Under Solen that we believe in the value of travel. Not only because of the personal change that it often brings, but the positive impacts that it can have on communities around the world. That’s why we’re very excited to take part again in Passports With Purpose.

In its third year, PWP is built on the idea that “travel can change the world.” (We couldn’t agree more!) For the last two years, its founders and a whole lot of travel bloggers have put together their efforts to raise money for a good cause. Last year the initiative raised over $30,000 and built a school in rural Cambodia. This year they’re raising money for LAFTI, an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of the Dalit (untouchable) population in India. Raising $50,000 will allow LAFTI to build a whole village of homes.

So seriously, as you start to think about things to buy this holiday season, consider putting your money to a good cause. Society and the planet will thank you.

How to take part:
For each $10 donation that you make to LAFTI (which means it’s tax deductible!), you will will be entered in the giveaway(s) of your choice. All proceeds go directly to LAFTI. Check out all of the prizes up for grabs here.

What you can win:

There are lots of raffle prizes available, and we’re happy to host a rocking Osprey Packs Vector 22. We’ll tell you from personal experience that this rolling bag is a must have; it fits a ton AND it’s TSA carry on size. Plus who doesn’t love the good people at Osprey?

So hop on over to the Passports With Purpose site and get to donating!

Here at Under Solen we get to hang out and work with some pretty inspirational people. Allie Bombach is certainly part of that crowd. A fellow 20-something-kick-ass-female-that-does-her-own-thing, Allie is taking on the world of adventure, video camera in hand. Beyond running Red Reel Video Media, she’s currently working on one of the most intriguing projects we’ve come across in awhile: 23 feet.

What is 23 feet? In a short answer: One film, three women, 23 feet of Airstream, and 2600 miles. With a love of adventure travel, Allie scored herself a sweet vintage rig and is planning on spending the next little while exploring the wild lands of the west, advocating “activism and awareness of conservation through promoting organizations that dedicate themselves to preserving these wild lands, and encourage people to get outside and see these places for themselves.”

We caught up with Allie to learn more about the project and what keeps her inspired.

Airstreams are hot these days. What was the first thing that happened that made you think, “I should get one of those?”

Being an outdoor videographer, my job keeps me on the road. I think the moment of realization came when my roommates were surprised to see me at home, and when I could sleep better in my car then my own bed. I have had a crush on old Airstreams since I was a kid and after traveling from place to place and only spending a few days a month at the room I was renting, it just made sense to get a home on wheels. I love the classic look, and that they are light and aerodynamic. Lasting through generations, they are meant for the roads and not the landfills and to me it resembles buying an old historic house verses a cookie cutter – more funky, fun, and the ability to have restoration creativity. I also love simple living. I’m excited to have limited space, so only the necessities are inside.

Did you think about buying the Airstream and then figure out the idea for the film, or vice versa?

I bought the Airstream first and was planning on moving to Portland, OR in the summer of 2010. After attending the 5point film festival and being overwhelmingly inspired to create by the filmmakers, I felt the story I wanted to tell was already there, it just needed to be set it in motion.

How did the idea for 23 Feet evolve?

At first it was about challenging myself. I am happily addicted to change, risk, and putting myself out of my element and the undertaking of living full-time on the road was a welcomed adventure. After discussing the challenges with others who had been on the road pursuing their passions, I realized that a lot of the conversations came back to community. It’s easy to feel alone out there when you’re always showing up in new place without knowing a soul. But, people who are passionate about the outdoors and getting outside are usually a pretty easy group to approach, and it’s hard to leave that new place without making a friend or two. So, it evolved into a story about the traveling community. A big theme of the film is enjoying our wild lands which, ultimately, go hand in hand with taking responsibility for them. Every day we are reminded that we cannot take these spaces for granted – every day we lose more and more precious wilderness. We are striving to stir people to action by reminding them of how lucky we are to have access to nature, and to bring awareness to conservation efforts throughout the West.

Who’s involved in 23 Feet?

When I offered to take friends with me on my trip across the West, I really didn’t expect anyone to say yes. After all, taking over a month off of work isn’t really something most people can do. And it’s not like this would be a vacation! Filming production is a lot of work, especially on the road. But Greer Glasser and Lisa Montierth not only said yes, they are drastically changing their own lives in the name of this adventure. I love that these two ladies are willing jump onboard, let me throw them into some pretty hairy situations, and at the end of the day crawl into some pretty tight quarters for some shut-eye. Greer is a long time friend and a very solid gal to have at your side. I’m sure I wouldn’t have made it out of many a foreign train station if it not for her savvy travel skills. Not to mention, as our designated events manager, she knows how to throw a damn good party! Lisa is also a welcome companion on this trip because as a talented writer she is able to see the beauty and fun in almost any situation. When the travel days are long and Greer and I are about to put on our cranky pants, Lisa will be there to help us appreciate our surroundings. As Red Reel Video Media’s writer, she’ll have a vital role in telling the story of 23 Feet, and she’s also going to teach us some well needed Yoga skills…

Tell us what it’s like to take on this project as a group of three women?

It’s easy to see this project as three young ladies headed out for an adventure, and part of that we embrace. However, our true dedication lies in telling a story that has not much to do with gender, but the inspirational stories of many individuals and their passion for the outdoors. Taking on any film project presents some unique challenges and we are so lucky to be backed by a diverse community of rockstar people who understand and care about the story we are striving to tell. The fact that we do happen to be three young women is, of course, part of that story. I think it will be really interesting to see what that will ultimately mean to the project and how people will respond to us throughout our travels.

“Community” is a common theme in your idea for this film. What’s your own definition of community and how do you think this adventure might change that?

Community to me is really a bond where people share a similar passion. I think what pops into my head first is physical locations, like the community of a town. Although, when I think of my own community, I am unable to name just one place. I’d say that my community is defined more by a feeling then a location and I hope that this adventure proves it to be stronger then I thought.

Since embarking on this project, what’s one of the main things that you’ve learned? What do you think you’ll learn over the next several months?

There have been a lot of hurdles up to this point in the process of making this project a reality. While rebuilding the 40 year old Airstream I kept asking “Is that possible?” in reference to things like plumbing and electricity. My step dad, who has been a HUGE help in the restoration, always replies without hesitation or concern “Allie… nothing is impossible”. At first, I thought he was talking about installing solar power or having a collapsible rain barrel, but I think his simple reply has had a deeper meaning to me in the last few months. I’ve come to realize that many of my friends and family have traveled in their lives for extended periods of time. My grandparents traveled the United States for 10 years while I was growing up. From Vancouver, BC to New Orleans, LA, visiting grandma’s house was an adventure because it was always somewhere different. I have come across many people that not only live on the road, but work full-time in converted Euro vans or trailers. It’s becoming more and more apparent that many have taken on this lifestyle if not now, at some time in their lives. Every now and then I hear from friends that they too would love to travel, but it’s just not possible. I can hear my step dad speaking up at this point. I hope to learn more about how people perceive what is possible, and what is pushing them forward or maybe…holding them back? ….And I hope Lisa will teach me some Yoga skills.

What’s the plan for the project?

Our dates aren’t really set in stone, but we will head out from Durango to Silverton, CO on the 4th of July for the famous firework show. Then, through the month of July we’ll head through Utah, Nevada, California, and Oregon. We’ll pull into Portland OR in early August and will premier the film in later in the Fall. We encourage people to follow along on our Facebook page as well as on our site www.23feet.org. We’ll be keeping in touch through words, photos, and short video clips. We also encourage people who are out there right now to let us know their own stories and meet up with us for a high five!

We will be having a 23 feet launch party at Serious Texas BBQ in Durango, CO on June 30th as a farewell and a high five to the Durangatang community. Local music, tacos, and brewskis will be on from 4-8 pm and the Airstream will be there to tour!

You’re making a film that’s certainly about inspiration. What inspires you on a daily basis?

Inspiration comes in so many forms for me. Something that keeps inspiring me lately is what happens after inspiration has taken hold of others; the drive in people who are determined to take what inspires them and turn it into action. One talk motivates someone to be active in a nonprofit, one film pushes someone to change their purchasing habits, one person challenges another to take on life as a precious gift, it’s endless. I feel so lucky to have such a great group of friends that inspire me in this way on a daily basis; people who are taking charge, setting goals, and making change.