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Magnitude 0.9439 Solar Eclipse Photos + Map & Facts

Tim Konrad — Mon, 21 May 2012 04:16:47 +0000

photos by Tim Konrad

Three things happened this evening when the magnitude 0.9439 Annular Solar Eclipse occurred over Squaw Valley, CA.

The light dimmed as if the sun was setting.
Shadows got very odd looking.
The birds and animals started going nuts.

This was the moment of Annular Eclipse - Ring of Fire.

Squaw Valley, CA

Map of the Annular Solar Eclipse of 2012

This map shows the path of the Annular Solar Eclipse of 2012 May 20 . The northern and southern path limits are blue and the central line is red. The yellow lines crossing the path indicate the position of maximum eclipse at 10-minute intervals. -NASA

Map of Solar Eclipse Paths

Solar Eclipse Facts

The longest duration for a total solar eclipse is 7.5 minutes.
A total solar eclipse is not noticable until the Sun is more than 90 percent covered by the Moon. At 99 percent coverage, daytime lighting resembles local twilight.
Eclipse shadows travel at 1,100 miles per hour at the equator and up to 5,000 miles per hour near the poles.
The width of the path of totality is at most 167 miles wide.
The maximum number of solar eclipses (partial, annular, or total) is 5 per year.
There are at least 2 solar eclipses per year somewhere on the Earth.
Only partial solar eclipses can be observed from the North and South Poles.
Total solar eclipses happen about once every 1.5 years.
This can happen only during a new moon, when the Sun and the Moon are in conjunction as seen from Earth.

Nearly identical eclipses (total, annual, or partial) occur after 18 years and 11 days, or every 6,585.32 days (Saros Cycle).
The Saros Cycle exists because it takes 18 years and 10 days for the entire orbit of the Moon to precess once around in its orbit plane so that the lunar nodes make one complete revolution along the orbit. This “Nordical” period equals nearly an integer number of lunar months (223 x 29.53 days = 6,585.19 days) during each Saros Cycle. Because the true length of the Saros Cycle is 6,585.32 days, you have to wait THREE Saros Cycles in order for an eclipse to repeat at the same spot on Earth.
Successive eclipses in the Saros Cycle happen 1/3 of the way around the world from each other, and after three Saros Cycles, the eclipse returns to nearly the same geographic location after 54 years and 33 days.
Twelve different Grand Saros eclipse series are now occurring, with the one producing the eclipses of 1937, 1955, 1973, 1991, and 2009 having durations near the 7.5 minute limit.
Every eclipse begins at sunrise at some point in its track and ends at sunset about half way around the world from the start point.
Partial solar eclipses can be seen up to 3,000 miles from the track of totality.
Before the advent of modern atomic clocks, studies of ancient records of solar eclipses allowed astronomers to detect a 0.001 second per century slowing down in Earth’s rotation.
Total solar eclipses happen because the Sun is near one of the nodes of the lunar orbit, and the Moon is at perigee at this node at the same time.
Annular solar eclipses happen because the Sun is near one of the nodes of the lunar orbit, and the Moon is at apogee at this node at the same time.
Shadow bands are often seen on the ground as totality approaches.
Light filtering through leaves on trees casts crescent shadows as totality approaches.
Local animals and birds often prepare for sleep or behave confusedly during totality.
Local temperatures often drop 20 degrees or more near totality.
During totality, the horizon is illuminated in a narrow band of light, because an observer is seeing distant localities not under the direct umbra of the Moon’s shadow.Link: NASA’s Eclipse Website

Solar Eclipse from Space

Odd ring shaped shadows.

Do not stare directly into the sun!!!

Contour Vs. Go Pro? MSP Films Serves Up 6 Contour Edits That Will Keep The Ski Buzz Alive!

Chris Brown — Sat, 19 May 2012 02:09:49 +0000

Click here to view the embedded video.

Ready for winter yet?

Sure some warmth, shorts and miles of singly track do a decent job of filling the void. Skiing, however, is what drives the train. Since the Southern Hemisphere won’t be happening (for me) this year, epic footage from last season will be the straw that’s grabbed when a skiing fix is needed.

QUESTION IS: Do we watch all six edits in one sitting? Or, do we space them out, one per month until the bull wheels start turning again? Or, do we watch all six out of the gate and circle back to the favorites when necessary?

Whatever the choice may be, MSP Films has the answer. Epic AK, Japan and BC Contour footage awaits!

Scared of Heights? These Russian Kids Ain’t

UnofficialNetworks — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:40:24 +0000

Click here to view the embedded video.

Are these Russian teens fearless of just plain stupid? High above the recently completed Russky Island Bridge, which finally connects the very isolated island in eastern Russia with Vladivostok and the mainland two teens walk precariously along construction crane.

The World’s Hottest Pro Synchronized Swimmers – Bia and Branca Feres

UnofficialNetworks — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:55:21 +0000

Beatriz Feres and Branca Feres (born February 22, 1988, Brazil) are Brazilian synchronized swimmers. And yes they are identical twins. The Feres sisters competed for Brazil in the 2007 Pan American Games in synchronized swimming.

RideThePlanet: Norway – Lofoten Islands

Tim Konrad — Thu, 17 May 2012 19:37:25 +0000

RideThePlanet: Norway – Lofoten Islands

The crew of ridetheplanet.ru have been traveling the world in search of exotic ski locations. So far they have traveled to Japan, Norway, Kamchatka, Georgia (the nation not the state), Arkhyz, Kavkaz and Kashmir.

We must say, it’s good to see some of that new russian money is going to a cool project like Ride the Planet instead of buying more Mercedes G500′s and high end prostitutes.

Graphic Footage Warning | Skydiver Breaks Neck Mid Air | SURVIVES

Charlie Cohn — Thu, 17 May 2012 16:09:02 +0000

This video may be disturbing to some. At first it is difficult to see what happens, but the obvious struggle to pull his chute and the limp legs in the frame have a sobering effect. It seems like you might watch a fatality, but his emergency chute opens and in the end he survives. I’m sure some of you will think that this is a disrespectful video to post, but here is what the man in the video has to say about it:

“My accident 4/23/03. In this video I am the instructor. The camera is on the left side of my head. The points of contact were the top of my head and his ribs. I heard my neck break and, I was paralyzed instantly. My student broke 2 ribs. The legs you see flopping around are mine. My emergency parachute opened around 700′. I was fully conscious until hitting the ground.

I think it is hilarious because people get sad over it so many years later. It was one point in time that is far in the past. So, relax and, smile my life is Great!”

11 Miles of Single Track For Sale in Stowe!!

Chris Brown — Tue, 15 May 2012 23:42:44 +0000

Cady Hill is a 260 acre droplet of a hill that sits smack dab in the middle of Stowe. This parcel is for sale. The property has long been marketed to potential buyers as an “estate parcel” or multiple single home development project. At the same time, the property has long been the home of 11 miles of irreplaceable multi-use singly track. Imagine 11 miles of hard earned, years in the making, single track erased to make way for someone’s estate or a bunch of backyards. It has happened before in Stowe, God Street ring a bell? We have a chance to insure this doesn’t happen again.

Fortunately, the Stowe Land Trust has signed an agreement with the seller to purchase and permanently conserve this land. Stowe Land Trust has until the end of May (this month) to raise the funds and close the deal. If you ride in Stowe, would like to ride in Stowe or just enjoy multi-use trail, consider donating here. Doing so will insure a lifetime of dirt under the tires on some amazing singly track.

Mo' Donations Equals Mo' Singly

Why help the Land Trust buys this land? 11 miles of established multi-use singly in place and the potential for many more. Singly that forever, will be ours to play on.

Perhaps a little history will help persuade?

MTB trails and bikes have evolved in lockstep over the past 20+ years. When fat tires, rigid forks and caliper breaks were first introduced, long tours on rutted dirt roads or poaching hiking trails was the bomb! Eventually, with the introduction of some fork travel, V-brakes etc., slogs on grimy dirt roads and fly by night poaches lost its luster. Especially with miles of wide open tracks of land spreading out in all directions.

Craving sinuous lines of singly, trail enthusiasts began devising and implementing networks of trail. Armed with rakes, clippers and a pruning saws, stealth trail builders took to the woods. Cady Hill was ripe for the taking. Proximity to the village with numerous points of entry and exit provided opportunities for dirt aficionados to mount their stead after a day of work and head out to the woods to build and of course ride new trail. First tracks, always the best!

Lung Buster in Cady Hill

Don’t ask, don’t tell and before long, an 11 mile web of singly was established. Cady Hill offers ALOT of everything. Flowy, bermed singly? Check. Rooty, lung busting climbs? Check. Cliff drops? Check. Easily, tours through Cady Hill can serve up a solid day of adventure.

The real beauty of this network, however, is the cornerstone it provides as a jumping off point to countless other adventures throughout the mountains of Stowe. Again, evolution at work. Tires got fatter, disk brakes became the norm, suspension came to the rear, riders got stronger and started going bigger.

Perfect Bridge. One of Many in Cady Hill.

Links, that start or end on Cady Hill, now make it possible to access other trail gems from Moscow (VT), to Cottonbrook, to Trapps and beyond. This land becoming private, erasing eleven miles of quality dirt trail would suck! 70K to go for the raise. Every bit counts. Throw some into the kitty here.

Maybe donating / owning eleven miles of prime single track is not your thing. That’s good, but eating pizza must be in the wheelhouse somewhere. This Thursday, May 17th, go for a ride in the network and then stop into Pie in The Sky on the Mountain Road and buy some za because 100% of sales on this night will be donated to the Cady Hill Forest project.

Pie in The Sky Throwing Down for Sweet Trail

Let’s get er’ done. See you on the trail!

The Moon is Always Super in Alaska

Lee Lyon — Tue, 15 May 2012 05:22:02 +0000

Although a little bit late to the game, it seemed appropriate to share some photos from the Super Moon up here in Alaska. It turns out that the moon is always pretty awesome up here, but the lead up to the super moon provided some extra-enormous moon-over-mountains opportunities. Here is a quick photo gallery from the weeks leading up to the Super Moon.

All photos are courtesy of Zach Paley, mostly taken around the Kenai Peninsula.

Crescent moon and mountain landscape.

A little larger.

Big moon and big lines.

Super Moon in Anchorage.

STOWE MTB CONDITIONS UPDATE // DRY, CLEAN AND COLORFUL….SINGLY TRACK IS GAME ON!

Chris Brown — Mon, 14 May 2012 12:32:02 +0000

Looking for the silver lining to the weak winter we experienced in the Northeast this year? Dust off the MTB and go ride! The best singly in the land is clean, dry and waiting for you.

Clean, Dry and SOOOOO GOOD!

With the exception of a handful of superb “earn your turn” April skiing days, March temperatures in the high 70′s pretty much crushed the ski season.

Fortunately for MTB riders, the April snow events were sequestered to the higher elevations. Down low, millions (if not billions) of deciduous trees were aroused from their winter slumber weeks ago, all available moisture is being quickly wicked away and turning the single track forests into a lime green early season color explosion. This combination of the moisture sucking root balls and SUPERBLY BUILT trail is providing for an epic early season of tours through the lime green network of Stowe. Time to ride!

Keep in mind, these ridiculously good trails didn’t create themselves. Numerous volunteer hours, Stowe Mountain Bike Club Membership donations and enjoyable efforts in the woods are the reason we can flow on two wheels through the woods. JOIN the club and PLEASE check trail status before you ride here. More members and volunteers equals more new trail to enjoy!

PHOTO TOUR AND TRAIL STATUS

ADAMS CAMP:

New school trail riding at its best! Countless, perfectly bermed switchbacks, perfect grade climbing and descending trail and bridge work worthy of Landscape Architecture Magazine is the name of the game in this stash of trail. A few wet spots to be aware of, but if you are looking for flowy goodness, search no more. Beware of at least one Black Bear roaming around the woods in the area. At first, the large black spot on the trail was thought to be a stump. Then the stump moved, rapidly, up into the surrounding woods.

The Doctah Ripping the Lime...

Green on Green on Green on Granite

Scalpel Please!!

Adams Camp Bridge Feature

Carve Coming

Landscape MTB Design at its Phinest!

PIPELINE TRAIL:

Looking for a quick return on investment? Look no further. Accessing the Pipeline Trail requires a power climb of either dirt or pavement depending on your mood. Get to the top, do a 180 and point the wheels down. Jumps, berms, bridges and endless pump track style cross hills await. Fall line riding at its best!

Pipeline Goodness

Pumpin' the Flow on the Pipe

TP Checkin' the Flow in the Pipe!!

MAPLE RUN / STERLING VALLEY

Spin to win! Hitting Sterling Valley via Maple Run from Stowe Village requires a solid effort of vertical gain that quickly gets you into the wild. Once in the wild, a variety of new and old school trail await.

Yellow Jersey Spinning

Sterling Valley New School Singly

TP Ripping Sterling Valley

IN THE LOWLANDS:

Pictures worthy of a look cause the colors are just so awesome:

Red Barns, Yellow Daisies and a Smiling MTB Rider

Color, Light and Awesome Single Track in Stowe, VT

Lime leaves, Yellow daisies, Black bears, Brown dirt trail, Grey granite, Red pine needles and Exceptional single track! How’s that for a Silver Lining? Let’s go RIDE!

Cook Tent Architecture (And Just About Everything Else You Need to Know About Backcountry Skiing) With Andrew McLean

Lee Lyon — Sat, 12 May 2012 23:11:00 +0000

Click here to view the embedded video.

Andrew McLean is one of America’s most accomplished and experienced ski mountaineers. He has also been testing and designing gear for companies like Black Diamond and Mountain Hardwear for over a decade. Generally speaking, the man is an authority on backcountry skiing. Luckily for us, Andrew shares his wealth of experience on his blog – Straightchuter.com.

Click here to view the embedded video.

This is NOT a tutorial.

Straightchuter is a catch-all for any topic in the realm of backcountry skiing – posts range from crazy trips around the world to ski politics in the Wasatch. However, some of McLean’s most interesting and helpful contributions are his tips and How Tos on all things ski related. Examples include: Building Launch Pads, Ripping Skins, Drying Gear with a Camp Stove, and Uses for Voile Straps. Andrew McLean has a unique system for everything, and his tips and tutorials are well worth reading.

Base camp complete. Photo from Straightchuter.com

The most recent How To from Mr. McLean is on Cook Tent Architecture. It explains in detail how to set up an effective cook tent / base camp using a pyramid style tarp tent. Pyramid style tents are the base camp solution for those of us who can’t afford the weight or $$ on a Space Station (that’s pretty much all of us). Pyramid tents are cheap and light. Used improperly, they provide no protection from the elements at all, but with the correct system, they are warm and cozy.

For more tips and tutorials from Straightchuter, explore the categories drop down menu on the right side of their homepage.