Built Tour

Let's go a Lugin'

There's those that attend the party, then there's those that bring it - in the form of 700 lb chunk of ice sculped in the shape of the Tetons with veins of liqour pouring out of every direction. The MK booth was rockin' yesterday afternoon as the introduction of the first annual Ice Luge kicked capped off another great day in sunny, cold Salt Lake.  For $5, participants recieved one 'run' down the luge, an event tshirt, and novelty MK shotglass.  The $5 charge raised money to help benefit the Conservation Alliance.  In addition, Mk matched each $5 with an additional $20 donation to the CA.  In all, over 400 people made the effort and showed the courage to take the plunge, drinking their choice of a variety of libations.  Hopefully the start of a new trend for future shows; the MK team will be doing it for sure and it'll only get bigger and better.
A big 'Thank You' to everyone that showed up and donated!

Welcome to Salt Lake City - Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 07

Though it should read - 'Welcome to the Jungle,' the Outdoor Retailer show boasts one of the largest industry turnouts in the world.  Anything and everything outdoors can be found in this massive housing that is the Salt Palace.

If you're in town, stop on by the MK booth at #34142.

On the road again...

And making our way through America's heartland; out I-70 and back on I-80.  Check out our TravBuddy profile for a short list of places we'll be and when.  We'll be looking for some sofas to crash on, so if you've got room, let us know.

Welcome to Marion, Il - Nature's version of the tattoo

Paradox of the day:  If someone carves artwork into a living tree, do 'treehuggers' get mad for hurting the tree?  In principal, yes, unless the carving is of a sweet dragon or gnome, in which case it'd be considered cool.  Or not???
Anyway, while trying to find a place for the Buddy to run around in the midst of a day's trek from NC to St Louis, the MK team happened onto this tree in the middle of nowhere Illinois.  Never seen anything like it, and not sure if it brings any type of omen (good or bad).  For more creepy tree pics, go HERE.

MK on Myspace

We've given a facelift to the MK Myspace page, so if you haven't seen it, check it out.  If you have seen it, take a look again as it's looking pretty good.  Myspace.com/Mountainkhakis

Carbon Offsetting Explained

Can you explain Carbon Offsetting?  Do you know what it means to purchase from a 'carbon-neutral' company or consume a 'sustainable' product?  Though there exists a huge push towards 'green', environmentally friendly products, a large lack of clarity looms as to exactly what it all means.  Here's a short-list of links that will help bring you up to speed and help give you the basic knowledge necessary to both understanding and appreciating what's really going on.

Carbon Offset
Sustainability
Biofuel

More ways to Presence Management

Yet another way for the world to know where you are, while you are there.  Plazes users get to create simple, basic information profiles (more simple than myspace for sure), and once logged into the network, can view 'plazes' in that relevant area or around the globe.  In addition, whomever else happens to be signed on at the time shows up on your user 'dashboard'.  This first intelligently designed presence management software could help make those trips a bit more dynamic, make strange places seem a little more familiar, and maybe even reconnect you with an old friend who just happens to be in the same place at the same time as you.  pretty cool concept - Plazes.com.

Get Your Own Map!  MountainKhakis's profile on Plazes

Where we're going... and have been

A Traveling Community

TravBuddy has created an online community space for travelers to congregate, create profiles, post pics, blog, write reviews, meet people, and on, and on, and on.  There are tons of reasons to check this site out, and creating/updating profiles is pretty-user friendly.  An awesome resource for anyone who spends time out on the open road (or water, or trail, or wherever).