As spring weather takes hold, temperatures rise and New Hampshire’s ponds and lakes clear of ice, GayOutdoors Muses columnist Gandalf highlights some of his favorite flat-water paddling ponds and lakes.

Sea-Kayak: The rock-and-glide of open-water kayaking meets the sweet solitude of untrammeled shoreline. We found your paddling paradise in Florida—plus perfect water in Alaska and Maine.

As spring breezes waft through the neighborhood its time to think about that New Year's resolution you made about getting in shape.  You may have let it fade away as cocooned over the height of the winter.  But, beach season will soon be here and you've begun wondering if that Speedo will still fit.

Many people don’t realize how dangerous spring in the mountains can be – especially if they’re unprepared for the potentially cold weather that could be encountered at higher elevations. GayOutdoors Muses columnist Gandalf talks safety. 

The Pacific Northwest is well known for its abundant hiking opportunities, and fortunately for outdoor enthusiasts visiting Seattle, there are some great hiking spots right on the city's doorstep. If you're short on time but want to sample the splendor of the Pacific Northwest's forests and mountains, consider a hike to Tiger Mountain. It's within an hour's drive of downtown Seattle, and provides an opportunity to immerse yourself in lush forests, stretch your legs powering up a steep trail, and amble through high alpine meadows.

If you like to camp, then you have no doubt come across the problem of finding out where the gay campgrounds are. You probably have all the gear and would really enjoy camping with other gay men and women. Whether it's beside the ocean, in a secluded valley, near a river or in the mountains, knowing where to go can be difficult.

We all loved riding our bikes as kids, but as we get older, those trusty rigs usually end up gathering cobwebs. Too bad, because cycling's a great exercise for adults. And it's just as much fun as when you were terrorizing the neighborhood on your banged-up Schwinn years ago.

You have decided you want to learn to wave that wand with the glowing line, with a fly dancing this way and that at its end, that you want to stand knee-deep in a cold, clear creek and try to mesmerize a trout into taking your offering. You want to learn how to flyfish. So what's next?

Our well-worn Suburban churns up the steep, snow-covered logging road with our skis, snowshoes and luggage bouncing along in the back. Feeble flakes of snow drift down from a heavy, dark sky, but our driver, Chris Hanson, assures us that bright sun and lots of powder await us in the high country.

Twelve skiers are hoping to conquer Vermont’s state-long Catamount Trail during February. Throughout the entire month, the non-profit Catamount Ski Trail Association is offering an end-to-end ski tour on the backcountry trail, which also utilizes parts of cross-country ski centers in the state. The intrepid dozen are trying to ski the whole thing. Some other hardcore skiers are tackling the trail in two- and three-week periods while most are taking part of the journey in daylong tours.

As winter descends on the Pacific Northwest and drapes its high country under a thick blanket of snow, many hikers tuck their boots away, content to sit out the season until the late spring sun melts out the alpine trails once again. But many of the region's more dedicated hikers know there's another option: head for the lowland valleys, many of which stay green and snow-free all year...

It's no accident they filmed The Lord of the Rings in New Zealand. Its landscape is so diverse, it hosts every adventure sport imaginable.

In the last few weeks, Americans have been preparing for war in Iraq. Whether or not the war is justifiable, the military technology that will be developed will surely trickle down to the consumer market and result in a multitude of cool outdoor gadgets.

Leigh Brown, a gay scout in college and living in Great Britain, will be launching "OutInScouting.org" on February 1st. He's hoping to provide a space to advise gay scouts of all ages and backgrounds who are being discriminated against. And to provide a forum to discuss the idea of gay scouts in general. As a Cub Scout Leader, he does not openly parade himself as gay but is prepared to answer questions if he obtains a greater profile as a result of this initiative. Already a "legend" in his own Scout Council, Leigh is the ideal role model for gay boy scouts and scoutmasters.   

Straining against the weight of our backpacks, our legs buckling from the grueling hill now behind us, my hiking buddy and I looked up and suddenly felt as if we'd stumbled into a scene from "Lord of the Flies."