GJ Week In Review: Bike Vigilante, Otterbox Cooler, Duluth Pack

A recap of top stories for the week of May 7 – May 13, 2017.

1) Watch: Pro Skier’s 270-Mile High Sierra Traverse

Kalen Thorien, a professional skier and adventurer, decided to spend her summer on a 270-mile, 18-day, solo high traverse in the Sierra Nevada.

2) Global ‘Chase’ Raises More Than $7 Million For Charity

A unique ‘chase’ race format attracted more than 155,000 participants for a simultaneous start around the world.

3) Monday Bargains: Three Steals To Start Your Week

Great outdoor gear at an amazing price. Check out the bargains from REI, Cotopaxi, and LifeProof.

4) In The Spotlight: Duluth Pack Brand Profile

Duluth Pack is a North Woods institution. Founded 137 years ago, the brand still makes products by hand in the USA.

5) Kayakers Held Hostage In Post-Peace Deal Colombia

Ben Stookesberry and a team of international kayakers were 300 miles into the first descent of a Colombian river when FARC seized the group.

6) Modular OtterBox Cooler Touts ‘Ice For 14 Days’

Bear-resistant. Modular. 14 days of ice: Bold claims highlight the announcement from OtterBox, a brand known for phone cases.

7) Everybody’s Thirsty! View From The Bottom Of The Water Bucket

A man hid a camera in a bucket of water. Check out who comes to drink.

8) Zinke To Visit Bears Ears, Solicit Public Comment

The public can weigh in on the designation of National Monuments beginning Friday.

9) Meet The Vigilante Bringing Bike Thieves To Justice

Combing the internet and the streets, this unassuming cyclist is doing what Minneapolis’s law enforcement can’t: Tracking stolen bikes and the perpetrators responsible.

10) Protect Your Bike From Thieves: What You Can Do

Bike thieves are after your ride. But you can make a bike harder to steal. Follow these tips from an “undercover bike vigilante” to make your bicycle more secure.

11) ‘The Canoe’ Film Will Make You Long To Paddle

‘To paddle is to plug into the energies of the place, the land, the air, the water, the ancestors, the children who are yet to be born.’

12) Pair Biking Across USA, Trash Cleanups Along The Way

Collecting trash while crossing the country by bike: Seth and Abby are in week two of their ‘Packing It Out’ cross-country bike tour, and they want your help.

13) Badass Mom Is Bush Pilot To Denali

From heli-ski guide guide to climbing guide, Leighan Falley knows adventure. But, since having a daughter, she’s taken the thrill of Denali to whole new heights.

14) Testing The Lightest MTB Shoe In The World

At $400 a pair, this pro-level MTB shoe from Specialized costs about $21 an ounce.

15) Adventurous Woman? Enter ‘Sweaty Dirty Happy’ Contest

Enter to win the adventure trip of a lifetime at REI Outessa plus a massive package of gear.

16) Bankrupt Retailer Makes Way For America’s Largest Climbing Gym

Earth Trek’s latest gym will repurpose a 52,000 square-foot Sports Authority building into America’s largest climbing center.

17) Watch: Bear Chases MTBers Down Singletrack

Tree roots, and switchbacks, and bears — oh my!

18) Screaming Deals: Gear Savings Of The Week

Outdoor gear deals that are too good to pass up. Click at your own risk! Check out deals from: YETI, REI, Patagonia, Diamondback, Eddie Bauer, and more.

19) Hybrid Hammock A ‘Levitating’ Yoga Mat

Built with sun salutations in mind, Levitat jumps into the ‘Hammock Life’ fray with another hanging option.

20) 5 Jazz Up Your Camp Meals: 5 Recipes

Wieners on the campfire are good. But flank steak, grilled guacamole, and watermelon with gorgonzola are better.

21) Emerging Gear: Outdoor Products This Week

Our weekly peek at emerging products examines the sometimes cutting-edge, sometimes quirky world of gear design.

22) Make Hiking Rugged Again

Skinned knees, sweaty brows, and dirt under our fingernails: Sometimes you gotta leave the GPS and autonomous drone at home.

23) Crazy Slip-And-Slide Off 500 Foot Cliff

What’s a better way to start a BASE jump?

24) Mega-Plush: ‘LaidBack Pad’ Is Car Camper’s Dream

Car campers take note: You can expect to sleep great on the LaidBack Pad. But don’t expect to free up trunk space, or money for that matter.