Tibet Travel: The Qinghai-Tibet Railway

In 2006, China made possible a new way for trekkers and adventurers to get to the "Roof of the World" - a high-elevation railway that connects the Chinese province of Qinghai with Lhasa, the capital of Tibet.

Covering over 1,200 miles across the Tibetan Plateau, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway passes some of the most beautiful scenery in Asia.

From the windows of the train, it is possible to take in some of Tibet's most pristine vistas and natural wildlife as the train rolls across the highlands. In the summer, it is possible to see herds of yaks or, if you're lucky, Tibetan antelopes roaming. In the winter, there is a good chance you will roll through at least one blizzard along the way, the route rising as high as 16,640 ft. (5,068m) as it crosses the Tanggu Pass. A winter view from the window makes it easy to see why Tibet is called "the Land of Snows."

Mountain Hardwear's Q.Shield - A New Take on Waterproof - Video

New within the past year, Mountain Hardwear has introduced a process called Q.Shield to work in tandem with the OutDry waterproofing technology they are already using on some pieces to create a completely new standard of water-repellancy.

For the past 2 years, Mountain Hardwear has been using a laminating process known as OutDry from Italian innovator OutDry Technologies in their line of winter sport gloves. OutDry supposedly improves on Gore-Tex's popular waterproofing process by bonding a "waterproof-breathable membrane directly to the shell fabric," rather than to the inside of the shell fabric.

The new Q.Shield process complements OutDry, which by Mountain Hardwear's own admission "can't prevent exterior fabrics from wetting out," by fusing ion-mask extreme water repellency directly into the shell fabric, rather than coating the fabric like a DWR (Durable Water Repellent) does. Mountain Hardwear marketing goes so far as to state that Q.Shield does not effect feel or breathability and "will perform for the life of the glove," a marked improvement over DWR if true.

OutDry vs. Gore-Tex-style water repellency

Mountain Hardwear's OutDry-equipped gloves have already gotten some support over the last two years when tested head-to-head with Gore-Tex-equipped gloves, and if Q.Shield performs as MH's marketing indicates that it does, damp gloves on the ski slopes may quickly become a thing of the past.

However, as someone who has been reapplying DWR to my kit for years, Q.Shield's almost magical claims of near-waterproofness and lifetime effectiveness will take some serious substantiation to prevail on ingrained skepticism to such claims.

Frankfurt in Five: One-Day Travel Guide to Europe's Financial Center

Traveling Europe is an incredible experience, but there are so many countries with so much to offer that choosing an itinerary can be overwhelming - even just narrowing down a manageable list of countries, let alone cities, can be a monumental task! Germany has always been an important fixture in the European landscape, as much today as in the days of Charlemagne, and Germany should certainly be on any first-time visitor to Europe's short list.

Frankfurt's skyline - new and old meet

Here is the bare bones, brass tacks list of how to get the most out of a one-day visit to Frankfurt, Germany's financial and transportation hub on the Main River.

The Städel, overlooking the Main River

1. Museum District - Start your morning off by visiting some of Frankfurt's more than 30 museums, at least 20 of them located in close proximity to each other along the banks of the Main River, in an area known as the 'Museumsufer' (Museums Riverbank). Some of the museums include:

• Städelsches Kunstinstitut und Städtische Galerie, more commonly known as the Städel, one of Europe's most important art museums
• Museum of World Cultures
• Jewish Museum Frankfurt
• Bible House Experience Museum
• Historical Museum Frankfurt

Full list of Frankfurt's museums

New Pack Manufacturer Mile High Mountaineering Gets High Praise

Outside Magazine has been putting upstart pack manufacturer Mile High Mountaineering's flagship Salute 34-liter hiking and climbing pack through its paces on multiple different climbing pitches across Europe. After rigorous testing in Spain, France, and Germany, Outside's thoughts? "A perfect pack for climbers."

Among the original touches Outside's testers noted:

• "its unique S-shaped zipper, which winds around the top compartment and down the packs’ body"
• "the plastic-reinforced hang loop—designed much like a gear loop on a climbing harness"
• "the comfortable but compact suspension system that uses a lightweight M-shaped piece of flexible aluminum to create a simple frame for the pack"

Jumping onto the outdoor gear landscape in 2009, Colorado-based Mile High Mountaineering has stuck with what they know, producing a small-but-innovative line of activity-specific packs. Instead of expanding quickly, MHM has focused on packing their packs with perks to make their users fall in love with them. As the Outside article shows, it's clearly working!

Outside Online's full article: Mile High Mountaineering Salute: A Perfect Pack for Climbers

Baiyoke - Bangkok's Tallest Building

Baiyoke over Bangkok

Out of the heart of downtown Bangkok juts the Baiyoke Tower II, an axle hub that the city's daily commotion seemingly revolves around. At 997 ft., the 85-story Baiyoke (pronounced "buy-yo-kuh") is the tallest building in Thailand and the fourth tallest all-hotel structure in the world. The Baiyoke Tower II is home to the Baiyoke Sky Hotel, a number of eateries, and an observation deck with a commanding view of the city.

Joy Is Up in Bangkok

Easily identified from many places in downtown Bangkok, Baiyoke can also be recognized by the multi-story advertisements that often grace the sides of the building.

At ground level, you would hardly know you standing below Thailand's tallest building - the streets and alleys around the hotel and even the lobby area itself feel much more like a bazaar or Thai street market than a luxury hotel.

However, once you push past the congestion and into the elevator, you begin to feel the elegance that is the heart of the Baiyoke.

Restaurants and cafes abound in the Baiyoke, including the Roof Top Bar (83rd floor), Stella Place Chinese Restaurant (79), Crystal Grill International Buffet (82), Bangkok Sky (76/78), Tee Off Cafe (next to the open-air golf range - 18), and the Bangkok Balcony (81). Sitting on top of it all is Baiyoke's Observation Point - an observation deck on the 77th floor and the open-air revolving view point on floor 84. Open daily from 10:30 to 23:30, the view is spectacular, especially after dark.

Bangkok's nightlife from Baiyoke's observation point

Bangkok's tallest building is a unique contrast to the traditional sites and numerous temples that draw many to the city. Cool off after a hot day of Bangkok travel at Baiyoke with a drink and a view!

Hiking Boots - What Is The Right Footwear For Your Trail?

The right hiking boots are the means
to many memorable miles

Trekking, hiking, tramping, walkabout - whatever you call it, a hike is a great way to get out and enjoy the outdoors. When it comes to hiking, not too much is needed - an idea of where you're going (a map and compass are probably a good idea), proper hydration, protection from the elements, and of course, adequate footwear.

50 years ago, the "choice" was pretty basic - full leather hiking boots with aggressive lugs on the sole. There wasn't really anything else on the market. However, since that time not only have the number of options burgeoned, so have the number of categories of hiking footwear - so how do you navigate the increasingly congested waters of outdoor footwear?