Presentations

Quality used gear from people who know their stuff.

* Got Gear? Unused gear cluttering your house? Sell it at the Swap!

* Need Gear? Trying a new sport? Looking for advice? Find it at the Swap!

Set-up starts at 6:30 p.m. in Como Park in St. Paul (first outdoor meeting of the season). Open to the public, feel free to bring friends and family.

If you email me (bshillin@comcast.net) with what you have to sell or what you are looking for I will add it here.

Examples of items available: Backpack rain cover, Canoe Paddle, Canvas Utensil bag, Flashlight, Fold up saw, Frame Backpack, Hard plastic jug, 3-gallon, Hatchet, Map case, Plastic Trowel, REI brand green womens hiking pants size 12 P, REI brand green womens hiking pants size 14, REI brand khaki womens hiking pants size 12 P, Stuff sacks, Toiletry kit, Water filter, Waterproof  Camera bag, Mountain Hardware Meridian 1 backpacking tent.

Multiple safaris led us to see the Big 5 as well as many other animals. We had the opportunity to visit Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, and other spectacular places. We had village visits where we engaged with the Maasai people and learned about their culture. Relaxation and a few more adventures happened in Zanzibar. Truly a trip of a lifetime!

Presented by Darcy Amnuel

Scott will talk about a bicycling trip last winter in Patagonia and Chile, starting in Bariloche, and ending on the island of Chiloé.

Presented by Scott Nelson

In 2017 and 2018 Mike trekked in Ladakh, a sparsely populated province at the northern tip of India. This mountainous region lies above 10,000 feet and most residents are of Tibetan heritage. It is a center of Buddhism and has a long and rich history. Surprisingly, this peaceful, low-cost, summer trekking destination sees few American visitors. Mike will share photos and videos of the landscapes, wildlife, and culture of Ladakh, and provide some practical tips for travel there.

Presented by Mike Farris

I had the opportunity to solo through hike the Ice Age Trail from April 3 to May 30 this year. I will share that experience starting with a brief history of the Ice Age Trail and talking about the highlights of planning and the journey itself.  Finally, I will offer suggestions and resources for anyone interested in traversing the Ice Age Trail and answer any questions. The Ice Age Trail is a 1,200 mile trail entirely in the state of Wisconsin, it is one of 11 national scenic trails in the United States.

Presented by Laura S.

During the summer of 2018, I cycled 4,200 miles across the US on the Trans America trail, carrying all my gear. Since this is a long ride, this presentation is the second part. I went with a group from Adventure Cycling, which will also be described. We cycled up crazy-steep mountains and had a thrill coasting down. We went through the amazingly flat, straight, and dull roads of Kansas, up the Rockies, and through deserts. I got used to drinking hot water from my water bottle, but I never got used to hot Gatorade. A final part that I’ll briefly mention is that I completed this ride with cancer. Sometimes, other cancer survivors called me an inspiration, and honestly, it doesn’t feel comfortable. But if I can inspire a few more cancer survivors to hang in there, I will.

Presented by Steven Malikowski

We will show pictures of the hike up 12,749 ft Snow Mountain and where we trained for the hike, for example Taroko Gorge, Elephant Mountain, and a few other places.

Presented by Mike and Nori

During the 2018 summer solstice, we took a 7-day trip around Iceland via the Ring Road.  Learn about planning a ring road trip, suggested routes, and of course, pictures.

Presented by Josh Brand

As befits a country that has been densely populated since Neolithic times, England is criss-crossed with long-distance hiking paths, ranging from short local rail-trails of 8 to 10 miles, to the 630 mile Southwest Coast Path. The terrain includes high moorland studded with dramatic tors, escarpments, and deep valleys, as well as flower covered woodlands and marshy river bottoms. This is a sampling of four that we encountered on recent Rover trips: The Cotswold Way, The Shropshire Way, The Limestone Way, and The Thames Path.

Presented by Bob Jarvis

Join me as I share the highlights of my 5 months and 20k miles exploring Alaska. From mishaps along the Alcan, too-close for comfort animal encounters, and the many adventures in between, I’ll give you a glimpse of what my life was like in the Northland. I’ll share my travel tips and also my itinerary for the September 2020 Rovers trip.

Presented by Kyra S.

Everyone says not to trek in Nepal in the monsoon season. But this mother-daughter pair spent 6 days on a “teahouse trek” in June, going up to 12,000 feet in green mountains, with views of white peaks. A guide and a porter completed the group.  Antonia (age 19) and Deborah (59) show photos and have suggestions for anyone thinking of planning a trek.

Karen will talk about her experience volunteering at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. She will also talk about National Park and National Forest opportunities and how you can get involved.

Presentation by Karen Klein

Spectacular views are the hallmark of the Cleveland Way along the 108 miles of its horseshoe-shaped route around the edge of the North York Moors.   This area of magnificent moorland, dale and coastal scenery was designated as a National Park in 1952 but it wasn’t until 1969 that the trail was finally completed. There are tour companies that provide different packages for many of England’s walks, including the Cleveland Way, but we decided to do all the planning ourselves and carry our own packs!

Presented by Bev M.

I’d heard many comments about the bike ride called Ragbrai. The simplest comment was that it’s a big bike ride in Iowa. Another comment was that it’s the biggest biking party around. That last one turned me off, since it gave images of loud partying far into the night. That’s not my style. But when some other Rovers asked me to join them on Ragbrai, I gave it a try. Now, my comment about Ragbrai is that I’ve toured across many states and countries on my own and in groups, but there’s nothing like Ragbrai, in the best of ways. I was part of at least 10,000 cyclists going over quiet roads in Iowa and through small farming towns, with each one giving a festival for cyclists.

Presented by Steven Malikowski

Tour Europe’s most historic river, with stops in 5 UNESCO world heritage sites, castles, mansions, cathedrals, medieval cities, and an all day e-bike through the Black Forest to a mountain farm.

Presented by John Elliott

Doug will present a slideshow of a guided boat/bike trip he took in the northern Netherlands May of 2019. The bucolic countryside starts just outside Amsterdam and provided beautiful views of dikes, seashores, small towns, tulip fields, and forests. A very bike-friendly country, peddling was safe, enjoyable and fascinating.

Presented by Doug Johnson

Come see all the work that has been accomplished so far!  All the initial buckthorn on the lot has been removed! Lots of invasive work has been done and is beginning to be under control.  Many natives have naturally come up on their own now.  See the future goals and challenges and see where we are going on 2020!

Presented by Cheryl Batson