Trailspace Blog November 2009

What would happen to your GPS receiver, backpack, or ice axe if someone forgot them at the airport, the trailhead parking lot, or even on top of a mountain? (Trust me, this does happen.) If you’re lucky, you’ll find them in a lost-and-found bin (or table, like at right) before anyone else. Or you'll hope the finder can ID you as the owner and contact you. If not, you’ll be looking for replacement gear.

Aiming to make the recovery process easier is SendMeHome.com, which launched this month and claims to be the first free lost-and-found recovery service in the world. At SendMeHome.com you can register anything of personal or monetary value—tents, backpacks, that sweet new soft shell that broke your gear budget.

I have yet to use SendMeHome, but for free it sounds like a simple and worthwhile service, one that will prove itself—and the kindness of strangers—only after you lose something.

Here's how it works. Each item gets a unique and anonymous ID code. You can write this code on the item, print free labels, or order professional labels. If your contact information changes update it on the site. The site is entirely free, unless you opt to buy labels, and you can register an unlimited number of items. If you lose something, SendMeHome.com lets you communicate anonymously with anyone who finds it in order to arrange for its return.

Here’s hoping no one forgets your new ice ax at the summit, but if you register it with SendMeHome.com first, you at least stand a chance of seeing it again.

For more information: www.sendmehome.com/about

We've done this before with Yvon Chouinard, Conrad Anker, and Steph Davis, but here's the latest short film from Timex Expedition's Return to the Outdoors campaign, in partnership with The Conservation Alliance.

Timmy O’Neill highlining in Cracked Canyon at the Ophir Wall, San Juans, Colorado:

There's also a new clip of Rick Ridgeway surfing in Mexico.

For more information: www.returntotheoutdoors.com

Monday, September 22, is World Carfree Day, a day for people to remind the world that we don't have to accept a car-dominated society. Consider cycling, walking, or public transport instead of the automobile. It's also an excellent reason to hit the trails for a hike, run, or bike ride on the first day of fall. You just can't drive to the trailhead.

For more info: www.worldcarfree.net/wcfd/