Category Archives: Northern Life

500,0000 Page Views of NorthStarNerd.Org

Northern Life

When I started this blog back in 2006, little did I know or expect that the day would come when I would obtain 500,000 pageviews (1,203 posts)! Thank you for your support and readership over the years. In return I've always kept this blog true to its roots:

  • My theme: Dedicated to open access sharing of knowledge
  • My pledge: You will never find a single advertisement on my site
  • My commitment: My reviews will only be for products & services I purchase with my own money

Thus, it is with great pleasure … today … November, 16, 2012 … I announce you have combined for 500,000 pageviews of NorthStarNerd.Org! (see screenshot below, and then read on)

NStar-500k-TP

Obviously in the early years, the views were somewhat few and far between. However recent stats have seen 350 to 450 pageviews per day. Not bad for a 56 year old nerd from northern Minnesota (get it … the North Star Nerd). Perhaps you would like to read one of my earliest posts: Steak, Chips and a Pint of Cider (or what I learned in India).

Just today, the BBC published an article titled: Are Geek and Nerd now positive terms? In my mind, this is not even a question; the answer is now, and always has been … yes!

Here are just a few services I've provided and reported about over the years via my blog:

However, all work and no play is never a good idea … thus …

I hope you'll be with me for the next 500,000 pageviews. Who knows what exciting and intrigueing things the world of the future will hold. There may be challenges, roadblocks and "hills", however the one thing I do know is … I'll blog about it!

I welcome emails at: RichardHoeg{at}GMail{dot}Com. Consider signing up for blog updates via RSS or Facebook Like. See the lefthand column of this blog. Cheers.

NorthStarNerd-Hill 
NStar-500k

Google Maps, Your Outdoor Research Tool

Northern Life

For those of you who do not live in the Northwoods, my use of Google Maps may not seem valuable, but make certain you give consideration on how you might be able to utilize the satellite or street view for your own locale. It is amazing how a "birds-eye" view can help you plan activities. Here are just three examples of my own research conducted using Google Maps during 2012.

  1. Before starting on a long bike ride in the country, understand which roads are dirt as opposed to paved. While you may be willing to bike on dirt roads, a 30 mile ride on loose gravel is challenging, and depending upon your bike's tires … almost impossible. A quick check of Google Maps in the street view mode lets you plan routes in advance. Here is the intersection of Turtle Lake Road and Highway #6 near my cabin in northern Minnesota. I've actually biked this dirt road many times, but at least I knew what I was getting myself into the first time I took this route. (click to maximize any image)
    Turtle-Lake-Road
    ——————————————
  2. When planning a bike tour, it's nice to know how big the shoulder is on a given road. In this case you are looking at the Trans-Canada Highway as it winds its way through the Quetico-Superior just north of the US border. While you might expect the major highway across Canada to have wide shoulders, trip reports from other cyclings indicate otherwise. I've been hoping to ride from International Falls to Thunder Bay, but being on a bike when a logging truck goes by at 70 mph can be quite scarey. As you can see, the shoulder is very narrow on my planned route. While I have not ended my trip research with this one data point, I next need to understand how much traffic is on this section of highway. I'm willing to ride on roads without shoulders, but only if the traffic is very light. I ALWAYS check out the size of the shoulder relative to the amount of vehicle traffic before heading off on multi-day rides into regions I don't know.
    Trans-Canada
    ——————————————
  3. My last example is much more close to home. Using Google Maps I discovered a "phantom stone bridge" in the forest. I love to trail run in the Fall, but like to know in advance where my trails might lead. Research via Google Maps discovered this abandonned bridge which allows me to cross Lester River and thus complete a nice 5 mile loop.
    Lester-River-Bridge

In closing, give some consideration on how you might use the satellite and street view of Google Maps. Sometimes there are very nice ways to use a common web resource for personal benefit. Finally, if you're curious, here are the three spots in my research examples. Hopefully the expanded Google Maps view will give you a pespective on my region. The yellow "X's" show my research points.

Region

Monitoring the Northern Lights via your iPad or Android Device

Android | iPad | Kindle Fire, Northern Life

One benefit of living in northern Minnesota is the opportunity to view the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis). The arrival of Winter means increasingly optimal viewing conditions due to longer periods of darkness, and less moisture in the air. However, like most of you, I love to sleep! This fact means it is very easy to miss these gorgeous displays. Enter a simple Northern Lights app named Aurora Forecast (links to app: iOS | Android). This free app allows the user to view the latest forecast from one to many days out in the future. In addition, the app gives the current solar conditions. I've included a few annotated screenshots later on in the post. Although the screenshots were taken on my iPad, the user interface is 100% identical on my Android smartphone.

——————————

Based upon 6 months additional data and a Northern Lights Photoshoot on the night of June 6/7, I've signficantly updated this post. You should consider reading my update. I am recommending some new apps, and have included other helpful resources!

——————————

To determine whether it's really worth getting out of bed at 3 am, you should take a few more actions:

  • Install a weather forecasting app. If it's cloudy, unless you know someone with a plane, you won't see much!
  • Install a moon phase app. Even if the skies are clear, if the moon is close to full, the northern lights display will be sub-optimal due to excessive moonshine. Lots of moon phase apps exist for both iOS and Android. Just search on "moon phase" in your apps store.
  • Sign up for the Northern Lights alert service from the University of Alaska (free!)

For the final item, visit the University of Alaska web site and fill out a brief form. You will then receive alerts via email when the conditions are greater than a "4" (see below … forecast).

If you expect to visit northern regions of our planet, these simple apps and services can assist you in determining whether it's worth getting out of bed on a cold Winter's night!  A display of the Aurora Borealis in the northern skies is truly a thing of awe and beauty.  You may wish to visit my post from last February which reviews additional resources on this subject.

Click upon any image to view at full resolution.

Northern Lights Forecast (multiple days out & today)

Note: Do not compare the numeric value for the forecast vs the daily activity. Compare each number with trend data for that particular service. My own experience indicates these are different variables. I have never seen a forecast with a value greater than five, and the University of Alaska sends out an alert when the forecast reaches four.

Northern-Lights-App-1 Northern-Lights-App-2

——————————————

Current daily conditions: map

NL-1

——————————————

In closing, what would any blog post be without a virtual tour of the Northern Lights? Enjoy this time lapse display taken of the Norwegian skies set to some great music!

Aurora Borealis timelapse HD from Tor Even Mathisen on Vimeo.

If you liked this video, link to this page for even more northern lights beauty and music!

Ski Cam Man Upgrade

College Search, Northern Life

SkiCam Man needs an upgrade before Winter! (view race photos)

Three years ago I noticed a young company (GoPro) was selling cameras which could be worn during extreme sports, in my case Nordic ski marathons. During the Winter of 2010 as I competed, fellow cross-country ski competitors would take me aside after a race and ask me about the "device" on my head. Most people thought it was a fancy light for night time skiing. I would then show off my "skicam", and explain how I had found this small company out West …

Ski-cam-man-0Fast forward three years, and GoPro is now sold at BestBuy, Amazon, and all over the web. However, I have "skicam envy". The newer GoPro models have sharper lenses, and greater mexapixels. Yet, given the cost to upgrade ($300), I held off.

The wait is over, with the release of GoPro3, I discovered that the new Silver 3 had the same specs as the Hero 2. Better yet, Amazon is offering a $100 discount. Thus, SkiCam Man has upgraded to the Hero2 Outdoor model. This Winter, I will have:

  • 11 megapixel images
  • 1/2 to 60 time lapse photography
  • Rechargeable battery via USB
  • One button operation 

If you've ever considered taking photos while participating in athletic events, and do not need super high end video, now is the time to buy the older Hero 2 model. The only advantage of the  Silver 3 model is it is a bit smaller, and can off load content via wifi, but in terms  of the camera … it's the same! All my old mounts work fine (head, chest, and bike).

Wonder whether my own analysis is correct about the old versus new models? Here is an excerpt from Digital Photography's review of the GoPro lineup:

"The Hero 3 Silver edition, essentially a Hero 2 in the latest smaller body, also gains Protune mode for its HD output – a feature added via firmware to existing Hero 2 models. The latest models also gain Wi-Fi control to allow remote control via the recently-announced App, while the Black Edition includes a waterproof Wi-Fi controller."

Here a few photos from this afternoon's Nordic trail run using my head mount and new GoPro. The conditions weren't perfect for photography (heavy clouds, and all the foliage is down). Click upon any image to maximize and view at full resolution.

GOPR0024 
GOPR0029

GOPR0053 
GOPR0056

Northern Minnesota Cycling and Skiing Garmin Data

Northern Life

As another cycling season rolls to a close in northern Minnesota, I consider myself lucky to live on the shores of Lake Superior. In warmer weather, most afternoons will see me cycling up the North Shore, and now that the temperatures are following … I can hardly wait to Nordic ski through the northern Boreal forests. There are advantages to being a software nerd, and being able to work far from the maddening crowd.

I always wear my Garmin when I exercise, and over the past few weeks I've created a web site which links to the Garmin Connect data for some of my favorite rides, and skis in the Northland (Minnesota, Northwest Wisconsin, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan). If you've ever desired to compete in some of America's top cross-country ski races including the American Birkebeiner and the Mora Vasaloppet, you'll find Garmin data for these events and many more.

Link to Northland Cycling and Skiing
(Garmin GPS data for 40+ day rides and ski jaunts … and growing)

Here is just one example of the Garmin data for a bike ride from Superior, Wisconsin to Bayfield, Wisconsin along the South Shore of Lake Superior. (Garmin Connect Data). Click upon any image to view at full size.

Bayfield Ride Map (Garmin Connect Data)(Portal)

Bayfield-Map
—————————-

Bayfield Ride Charts (Garmin Connect Data)(Portal)

Bayfield-Charts

—————————-

Bayfield Ride Stats (Garmin Connect Data)(Portal)


Bayfield-Stats