Final Reminder: Win The Ultimate Hiker's Gear Guide by Andrew Skurka

For the past couple of weeks I've been gearing up to give away several copies of Andrew Skurka's new book The Ultimate Hiker's Gear Guide and in fact had planned on announcing winners as early today. Unfortunately I forgot to post one last reminder on Friday as I had planned, so I've decided to extend the contest one more day. That means you have through today to send me your entries and I'll pick the winners tomorrow.

Entering the contest is easy. Simply send me an email to kungfujedi@gmail.com with a subject of "Ultimate Hiker's Gear Guide." In the body of that email tell me which of Andrew's big hiking adventures you would most like to do yourself. You can find a complete list of the long distance hikes that he has done by clicking here.

That's it! Send that email my way and you'll be automatically entered to win. I have eight copies of the book to give away and will be shipping them out as soon as possible. The winners will be announced after I've had a chance to get in touch with all of them and I'll post the names here as well.

Good luck to everyone who enters and apologies for extending out the suspense on those of you who have already sent in your emails. I wish I had a copy for everyone!

Reminder: Win a Copy of The Ultimate Hiker's Gear Guide

Just a quick reminder to let you know that there are still a few days to enter my contest to give away eight copies of Andrew Skurka's new book The Ultimate Hiker's Gear Guide. Andrew just might be the best long distance hiker ever and he shares a ton of wisdom in this book. You can read my review on the guide here.

To win a copy of The Ultimate Hiker's Gear Guide all you have to do is drop me an email at kungfujedi@gmail.com telling me which of Andrew's great adventures you would like to do yourself. Trust me, he has plenty of awe inspiring expeditions under his belt and even though us mere mortals will probably never do them, it is still fun to dream. Please use "Ultimate Hiker's Gear Guide" as the subject in your email so that I'll know what it is in regards to. I'm accepting entries into the contest through March 31st and with in a day or two after that I'll be picking the winners.

When I last posted on this contest I noted that there weren't a lot of entires yet and that most people seemed to be interested in the Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim hike. Since that time I've received a lot more emails and some of Andrew's other excursions have started to gain more votes. At the moment, I'd say his Alaskan adventures are in the lead with the Alaska-Yukon Expedition out in front. That is one grueling choice, which only proves that Adventure Blog readers love to suffer on their outdoor excursions.

Good luck to everyone!

Reminder: Win a Copy of The Ultimate Hiker's Gear Guide

Just a quick reminder as we wind down the week. I'm giving away eight copies of Andrew Skurka's new book The Ultimate Hiker's Gear Guide (review here!). The book is full of all kinds of practical advice from a guy who has logged more hiking miles than probably just about anyone else on the planet. You'll find gear list, tips for improving your experience on the trail and insights on planning a long distance trek.

To win one of these copies all you need to do is drop me an email at kungfujedi@gmail.com with a subject of "Ultimate Hiker's Gear Guide." Then, in the body of the message, write me a brief note telling me which of Andrew's big adventures you would most like to do yourself. He has plenty to choose from and you'll find them all listed here.

So far I've had a steady flow of entires coming in but not an overwhelming number just yet. That means you have a great chance of winning one of these books. Oh, and in case anyone is wonder, the Andrew's Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim hike in the Grand Canyon is clearly the favorite hike amongst Adventure Blog readers thus far.

The contest will run through March 31st and shortly there after I'll pick and announce the winners at random. Good luck everyone!

Win a Copy of The Ultimate Hiker's Gear Guide by Andrew Skurka

There are few backpackers that have a resume that can compete with Andrew Skurka. The man has hiked a number of impressive long distance hikes including the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail and many more that don't even have names. His expeditions have taken him to the wilds of Alaska and South Africa, across Iceland and quite literally coast-to-coast in North America.

Awhile back I wrote a review of Andrew's new book The Ultimate Hiker's Gear Guide and gave it high marks for providing all kinds of useful information. The book is an essential addition to any hiker's library and offers tips on planning for a hike of nearly any length. It offers fantastic insights into what gear to take along on your adventures and teaches you how to shave ounces off your pack to make for a more enjoyable time on the trail.

I think The Ultimate Hiker's Gear Guide is a great resource for any backpacker and I think you'll agree. That's why I'm giving away eight copies of the book to readers of my blog. Yep, that's right, I have eight copies of Andrew's book to share with you. To win a copy of the book, all you have to do is send me an email at kungfujedi@gmail.com with a subject line that reads: "Ultimate Hikers Gear Guide." Then, in the body of your message, tell me which of Andrew's adventures you would most like to do yourself and why. That could be an epic hike through Alaska and the Yukon, a Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim adventure in the Grand Canyon, or a short hike along the Colorado Trail. He has plenty of great hiking adventures to choose from, so tell me which one you'd love to do.

As for me, I'd love to follow in Andrew's footsteps and make a circumnavigation of Yellowstone on foot. Yellowstone is one of my favorite destinations in the United States and I can't imagine how spectacular it would be to see it in this manner.

The contest is open through March 31st, so you have plenty of time to enter. On April 1st I'll pick the eight winners and random and ship out your copy of the book. Good luck to all who enter and I look forward to reading your entries.

Reminder: Win A Nikon CoolPix AW100 Ruggedized Digital Camera

I know I mentioned this earlier in the week, but I wanted to post one more reminder that we're giving away a Nikon CoolPix AW100 digital camera over at Gadling.com this week. This is Nikon's ruggedized point and shoot, which features a 16 megapixel CMOS sensor for taking great photos and 1080p HD video, which are nice stats in their own right. But what sets this camera apart, and makes it appeal to Adventure Blog readers, is that it is designed to withstand abuse. The AW100 is waterproof down to 33 feet, can withstand temperatures down to 14ºF/-10ºC, and is shockproof, which allows it to survive a drop of more than five feet in height. In short, it is perfect for all of our outdoor adventures.

To enter the contest, all you have to do is click here and leave a comment on the blog post. The contest closes tomorrow, Friday Feb. 10 at 5PM Eastern time, at which time we'll randomly pick a winner from the comments. This is a great chance to score an impressive little camera, as the AW100 is not only rugged, it also happens to be fairly light weight, thin, and small too. In short, it is a traveler and adventurer's dream.

Go sign-up and good luck!

X-Prize Encourages Exploration In New Contest

The X-Prize Foundation knows the importance of pushing our boundaries and seeking answers to important problems. After all, this is an organization that believes that through competition, we can do great things and solve some of the biggest problems facing our mankind today. They have offered large cash prizes for individuals or organizations that can develop everything from the next generation lunar lander to a medical device that can wireless monitor and diagnose your health.

Now, the Foundation has turned its eyes to the world of exploration and adventure, and hopes to encourage and inspire others to explore the world around us. To that end, they've launched a new contest that will award one lucky winner a $10,000 National Geographic Expedition. All you have to do to win is upload a video that demonstrates your love for exploration and the role that it plays in your life.

You can find complete contest information by clicking here and you can watch the videos that are already uploaded here. The contest has been open since last October, and so far there aren't a lot of entries. The deadline for submitting a video is April 10th, so you still have some time.

Nikon CoolPix AW100 Camera Giveaway On Gadling

As many of you know, I cover adventure travel news and write gear reviews for Gadling.com, one of the top all-around travel sites on the Internet. Yesterday I posted a review of the new Nikon CoolPix AW100, which is a great little camera that I think many of you would be interested in for your outdoor adventures. This is Nikon's entry into the ruggedized point and shoot category, which means it is waterproof (down to  33 feet), freezeproof (down to 14ºF) and shockproof, which means it can survive a drop of about 5 feet without suffering any ill effects. In short, it is a great camera that you can take with you just about anywhere, and abuse it along the way, without fear of it crumbling in your hands.

As I mention in the full review, the camera isn't just about being tough however, and it has plenty of great technology under the hood. For instance, it packs a 16 megapixel sensor for capturing great photos, and it can even shoot full 1080p HD video as well. My favorite feature by far is the built in GPS functionality, which not only includes a world map, complete with thousands of points of interests, but it also geotags your photos, allowing you to share the location from which they were taken with friends and family. This is a great little addition to have built into the device, and was fun to play around with while putting it through its paces for the review.

Now, here's the great part of this story. We're also giving away one of these cameras on Gadling right now, and it is very easy to win. All you have to do is go to this post and leave a comment before 5PM Eastern Time on Friday, and you'll be automatically entered to win. We'll randomly select one person to receive the camera, which is valued at $380. So, if you'd like to add a great, rugged, new camera to your gear collection, this is a great opportunity. I personally have the camera that we're giving away in hand, and will ship it out to the winner ASAP. I'd love to see one of the Adventure Blog readers win, as I think you'll really appreciate what the CoolPix AW100 brings to the table.

Good luck!

Earn A Wild Card Entry For The UTi Rhodes Run in South Africa

Looking for a new challenge for 2012? Then look no further than the UTi Rhodes Run, a grueling 52km (32.3 mile) race through the beautiful Drakensberg mountains of South Africa. This year's race will take place on July 14, in the heart of winter in the Southern Hemisphere, and as always, the course will wander through rough terrain that offers the potential for encounters with wild animals.

This will be the 24th edition of the Rhodes Run, and over the years, it has earned a reputation for being quite the challenge for long distance runners. As a result, the race sells out very quickly. But runners who are looking to take part in the event, but weren't able to get their application in on time, still have some hope. Athletic footwear company Inov-8 is giving away a "Wild Card" entry to the race and accommodations in the race village for the weekend of the run.

To enter the contest, all you have to do is send a photo of yourself, wearing Inov-8 shoes of course, to facebook@rebel-inc.co.za. They'll choose a winner from the entries, which will earn one lucky endurance runner a free-entry into this iconic South African race.

Find out more details on the Inov-8 Facebook page and good luck!

Climb For Change Launches VIMFF Photo Contest

Climb For Change, a website that serves as a hub for climbers who are undertaking expeditions for charity, is sponsoring the Mountain Photography Competition for the 15th annual Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival, which takes place in February of 2012. Submissions are being accepted now through January 15th, with the finalists, which will be selected by a jury of professionals, being put on display at the festival.

The grand prize winner of the competition will earn a two week guided expedition through Northern Pakistan and the "People's Choice" Winner, which is decided by an online vote, will win a Venta SV jacket from Arcteryx.

You'll find more details on the Climb For Change Facebook page, including a submission form and a gallery of entries to the competition so far. Judging from the entries on that page, you'd better bring your A-game, as there are some great photos already in the competition.

This is an opportunity for aspiring photographers to really show their stuff, and get your images displayed at a world-class mountain film festival. Who knows, you may even earn yourself a trip to Pakistan as well.

Write A Blog Post, Win Some Gear!

Details on the contest can be found by clicking here, but in a nutshell, they're asking all entrants to submit a 500-word blog post that falls into one of seven different topic categories. Those topics include such things as  your favorite trail, highlights from a recent hunting or fishing trip, or even a close call you may have had while in the backcountry. You'll find the topics are very broad and offer you the opportunity to be creative and have some fun with what you write. Photos are not required but they definitely can't hurt either.

Once you've written your post, fill out the entry form on the contest page and you'll automatically be entered. The contest runs through January 13, 2012, at which time six finalists will be selected by the amount of traffic the entry receives, tweets it generates, and so on. Those finalists will take home some sweet gear, such as a Rush 24 backpack, Stryke Pants, or these awesome looking Scene One Gloves.

You've still got a few weeks to enter the contest, so fire up your keyboard, write a creative entry, and see if you can score some free gear.

Who Inspires Your Outdoor Adventures?

It there a person or organization that has inspired your, or others, to get outside and enjoy outdoor activities? If so, then the Outdoor Industry Association wants to know about it. For the second year in a row, the OIA is sponsoring the Outdoor Inspiration Awards, and they're asking us to nominate those deserving some recognition.

Submissions can be made in several categories including Person, Group, and Company. Obviously, the "person" category is designed to honor individuals who inspire others to get outdoors, while the "group" category will recognize larger organizations, such as clubs, guide services, fund raising organizations and so on. The "company" category is specifically for for-profit businesses that displays some form of dedication to getting their employees, customers, or other people outside. You can read more about these three different categories and the selection process, by clicking here.

To nominate an individual, group, or business, fill out the online form with all the pertinent information, such as their name, contact information, and a brief explanation of why you think hey are deserving of the award. Nominations must be received by December 16 of this year, and a committee will review each of them, selecting those that they deem best fit the qualifications for inspiring others to take on an outdoor adventure.

American Alpine Club Giving Away $1000 Worth Of Gear!

The American Alpine Club is closing out 2011 in style by giving away $1000 worth of gear to one lucky member. The organization, which is a tireless advocate for American climbers both at home and abroad, will automatically enter all new members into the prize drawing, while all current members can simply send an e-mail to the AAC to request entry as well. New members can sign-up here.

The prize package includes $500 in gear and a $500 gift card from Black Diamond. The gift card allows you to choose what items you'd like to add to your gear closet, such as a new tent, backpack, or even some skis. The winner will also receive a Trango Piranha Knife, Mountainsmith Scream 25 Pack, and an Ibex Merino Wool Hoody.

For more information on the gear giveaway, the benefits of membership to the AAC, and more, click here. Also, new and renewing members should be sure to use the code "GEARUP" at checkout to ensure that you're entered into the drawing.

Win A Trip To South Africa By Starring In A Commercial

Have you always wanted to earn international fame while jet setting across the globe? Than I have just the opportunity for you. South African Tourism is looking for an American couple between the ages of 24-36, who are either married or in a committed relationship, to star in a new commercial that will air on CNN International, the BBC, and other major networks across the globe. The commercial will be a part of their new 20 Experiences in 10 Days campaign, which is designed to convince travelers that SA is a fun, adventurous, and romantic destination. The luck couple will be whisked away for an all expense paid trip to film the commercial, while also indulging in everything that South Africa has to offer. 

Polartec Wants To Give Your College $10,000

Polartec has launched their second annual Made Possible Challenge, which will award a single college with $10,000 cash and some great Polartec gear. The company hopes to encourage a new generation of outdoor enthusiasts through its support of collegiate outdoor programs and clubs.

Last year's winner was Appalachian State, which received 28,000 online votes in just a single week. The school used their $10,000 to create a scholarship fund that is helping to fund outdoor adventures for a number of students.

If you'd like to see your school considered for the 2011 edition of the Made Possible Challenge, simply go to this website and fill out the form, and submit either a document or short video explaining what your college would do with the money were you to be awarded the grant. Entries will be accepted until November 30th, at which time Polartec will select four finalists who will be announced on the company's Facebook page. After that, the public will weigh in, voting for the school that they feel is the most deserving.

The ultimate winner will be announced on February 1, 2012.