The Cross Country Ski Areas Association has been around for 30 years now with a goal of promoting x-c skiing at resorts. Gary continues his conversation on this show with Chris Frado, the Executive Director of the association. They talk about promoting the sport in the digital age, how x-c skiing has changed with the introduction of the skating technique and snow making at nordic centres and where the sport is headed in the future. Lorne Blagdon is back with more 'Trail Magic', adventures from the Appalachian Trail. This time he tells us about his second encounter with real trail magic. Someone hiked along the trail and just left a cooler there full of soft drinks, candy bars and other tasty goodies. It was another random act of kindness encountered on the Appalachian Trail. Gary also talks more about some of his favorite outdoor podcasts including content coming from The Outdoors Station in the UK and a hiking podcast called Anthony's Audio Journal. Next time we'll go ice walking in Jasper, ski up a river in sometimes challenging ice conditions and preview an interview from the UK about taking a vacation in an exotic country in a kayak. If you have suggestions for the show, stories youâd like us to do call our comments line at 206.600.4557, email me at doingstuffoutdoors@yahoo.ca or leave a comment on our webpage at doingstuffoutdoors.com. And if you havenât done so already, subscribe to Doing Stuff Outdoors in iTunes and other podcast directories. Be active...be healthy... and have fun in the outdoors.

We have two interesting interviews on the program today. First we go to Australia for a conversation with Nick Reese. He has an outdoor blog called Wild Adventure, stories of outdoor adventures in Australia. Last summer we spoke with Nick about his skiing adventures during the winter season in Australia. Today Nick tells us about his favorite summer activities of rock climbing and bouldering. He's a great photographer and sent along some pictures that I've posted here.Our second story is about x-c skiing. I have a chat with Chris Frado of the Cross Country Ski Areas Association. We find out about the organization, what it does and have a fascinating conversation about the early days of the sport in North America. Back in the 70's x-c skiing was booming. Everyone was doing it. But something went wrong. We'll talk about that and where the sport is today. I found my interview with Chris so interesting we broke it in two and will feature the second half next week. We look at the future of cross country skiing, why trail grooming is so important and the increasing use of snowmaking at nordic resorts. Also next time, Lorne Blagdon will be back with more 'Trail Magic'. Call in your comments, suggestions and outdoor adventures to the comments line at 206-600-4557. Email Gary at doingstuffoutdoors@yahoo.ca and subscribe to DSO in iTunes.

In our feature interview today we meet a former teacher of outdoor education who continues to share his passion for the outdoors with children. When Gig Keirstead retired he and his wife started an outdoors centre in New Brunswick called Elmhurst Outdoors. They provide maple sugar tours and meals, groomed x-c ski trails and outdoor education programs for schools. Gig talks about how important it is to get kids connected to the natural world again by doing things like building snow houses. Listeners have wondered where Lorne Blagdon and his Trail Magic series disappeared to. Well he's back with another tale from the Appalachian Trail. Lorne and his daughter hiked the full trail from Georgia to Maine a few years ago. He has another hiking adventure to share with us. Also on the podcast... comments about last weeks free advice on free-heel skiing, podsafe music from Pl@stic Soul, terrific outdoor podcasts from The Outdoors Station and squiggly ski tracks through the tombstones. Next week on the show... rock climbing and bouldering in Australia. Call in your comments, suggestions and outdoor adventures to the comments line at 206-600-4557. Email Gary at doingstuffoutdoors@yahoo.ca and subscribe to DSO in iTunes.

Gary was exploring a trail on snowshoes recently when he met Edwin Melanson. Edwin had an old pair of wooden snowshoes on and was out inspecting the trail. He's 75 years old and he calls himself a trail builder. Edwin is a long time outdoor enthusiast and the trailmaster of the Dobson Trail. He was also instrumental in the development of New Brunswick's spectacular Fundy Footpath. Gary talks to Edwin about his life as an outdoors trailblazer. And Gary answers a listeners question about free-heel skiing. What's the difference between cross-country, backcountry and telemark? Gary brings us along on one of his solo x-c ski adventures to try and figure out why he enjoys the sport so much. In the weeks to come on the program we'll go rock climbing in Australia, hiking in Jasper National Park and visit an outdoor education centre with some fabulous ski trails. If you have suggestions for the show, stories you'd like us to do call our comments line at 206.600.4557, email me at doingstuffoutdoors@yahoo.ca or leave a comment on our webpage at doingstuffoutdoors.com. And if you haven't done so already, subscribe to Doing Stuff Outdoors in iTunes and other podcast directories.

It's all about snowshoeing today on the podcast. Gary and his buddies go to Adair's Wilderness Lodge in the wilds of New Brunswick. Gary packs his trusty skis along but soon discovers the snow conditions and the terrain are better suited to snowshoes. He gets a taste of a winter mode of transportation that goes back thousands of years and is becoming more popular than ever thanks to a new breed of lightweight and versatile snowshoes. Join the group as they snowshoe along a wilderness trail past waterfalls and spectacular scenery. If you want to get a taste of what snowshoeing is all about this podcast is for you. Be sure to check out the Doing Stuff Outdoors website for regular blog posts and subscribe to the podcast in iTunes . Call in your outdoor adventures and story ideas to the comments line at 206-600-4557 and email the show at doingstuffoutdoors@yahoo.ca. Next week a trail builder in his 70's who still gets a charge out of being in the outdoors.

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