Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Bryan Hansel @bryanhansel.com · 1d

There's a new attack on public lands. It's a bill with the Orwellian name of "Border Lands Conservation Act." It would open up designated Wilderness Areas to "tactical infrastructure," such as border walls and fences, runways, roads, and surveillance towers.

www.paddlinglight.com/articles/a-t...

A Trojan Horse for Wilderness: Boundary Waters Under Attack, Again

Daily, it seems that there’s a new attack on America’s public lands. This is occurring even though over 74% of Americans support public lands, the public lands are seeing record visitation showing a s...

www.paddlinglight.com

7 12

Bryan Hansel @bryanhansel.com · 13d

Dusk at Craters of the Moon National Monument

1 25

Bryan Hansel @bryanhansel.com · 14d

Trump and the Republicans are not only threatening to shut down the government; they are threatening to fire all the National Park Service employees. Why? So they can give tax breaks to billionaires, throw people off their health insurance, and close rural hospitals. They are messed up in the head.

2 3 17

Bryan Hansel @bryanhansel.com · 15d

Western Mountaineering FlyLite Sleeping Bag First Look www.paddlinglight.com/articles/wes...

Western Mountaineering FlyLite Sleeping Bag First Look

Here's a first look at the ultra-lightweight Western Mountaineering FlyLite sleeping bag. I hope this ends up being the perfect summer bag.

www.paddlinglight.com

5

Bryan Hansel @bryanhansel.com · 15d

Sea kayakers deserve their own triple crown.

paddlingmag.com/trips/sea-ka...

How To Make Sea Kayaking Great Again

This challenge could be sea kayaking’s unlikely path to becoming North America’s coolest outdoor sport

paddlingmag.com

7

Reposted by Bryan Hansel

Paul "Princejvstin" Weimer📷🚀 🚀 📸 @princejvstin.com · 18d

there is a line from a YES song that reminds me of the Tetons.
"Mountains come out of the sky and they stand there"

bryanhansel.substack.com/p/photos-fro...

@bryanhansel.com has been in the Tetons (and I have envy, not been there in a few years)

Photos From the Tetons

As I write this from my tent, I've just finished up teaching two photo workshops in Grand Teton National Park and have spent two weeks in the park.

bryanhansel.substack.com

4 8 71

Bryan Hansel @bryanhansel.com · 16d

Big news in the paddlesports industry

www.paddlinglight.com/articles/the...

The Store Behind the World's Largest Paddlesports Expo to Close

On Sunday, September 21, Darren Bush, owner of Rutabaga Paddlesports in Madison, Wisconsin, announced the closure of his store effective at the end of 2025, but Canoecopia will continue.

www.paddlinglight.com

1 7

Reposted by Bryan Hansel

Paul "Princejvstin" Weimer📷🚀 🚀 📸 @princejvstin.com · Sep 7

The new @bryanhansel.com newsletter tackles The Blue Hour

bryanhansel.substack.com/p/the-blue-h...

The Blue Hour

A Magic and Often Missed Time for Photography

bryanhansel.substack.com

3 11

Bryan Hansel @bryanhansel.com · Sep 7

The Blue Hour: The Magic and Often Missed Time for Photography

open.substack.com/pub/bryanhan...

The Blue Hour

A Magic and Often Missed Time for Photography

open.substack.com

2 2 25

Bryan Hansel @bryanhansel.com · Sep 7

It's a great layup. It's light and it looks cool and it's beefy enough that it'll do fine if you aren't careful. I've run whitewater in it.

Bryan Hansel @bryanhansel.com · Sep 7

The northern lights, a canoe, and wilderness is almost all I need in life. Living simply is living better.

2 7 83

Bryan Hansel @bryanhansel.com · Sep 5

I've been sitting on the website onabicycle.com for probably a decade. It's up for renewal in October. I'm trying to decide if I will ever do anything with it or if I should just let it go.

On a Bicycle

e

onabicycle.com

1 6

Bryan Hansel @bryanhansel.com · Sep 5

I don't want to be on my death bed with a long bucket list that I've never accomplished, so I've decided not to have a bucket list.

2 1 17

Bryan Hansel @bryanhansel.com · Sep 5

My Online Adobe Lightroom class is open for registration.

www.bryanhansel.com/shop/online-...

Online Adobe Lightroom Class ⋆ Bryan Hansel Photography

In this online Adobe Lightroom class, learn acheive your vision through editing and printing your photographs. We'll also cover cataloging and more.

www.bryanhansel.com

4 7

Bryan Hansel @bryanhansel.com · Sep 3

I got to test the new BioLite Range 400 headlamp before it launched today. Here's my review. The short: If you're looking for a headlamp, you're going to want to consider this one.

www.paddlinglight.com/articles/bio...

BioLite Range 400 Headlamp Launch

The BioLite Range 400 headlamp is an innovative headlamp that offers fast charging and a dimmable main light. Is this the new king of headlamps? Let's find out!

www.paddlinglight.com

4

Bryan Hansel @bryanhansel.com · Sep 2

I think they got Friday the 13th wrong here

A screenshot from Meta showing Friday the 13th on Saturday the 13th.

6

Bryan Hansel @bryanhansel.com · Sep 2

I'm writing an essay about how we need to expand access to public lands due to the potential of AI reducing the hours we need to work, and I ran across this interesting article.

Effortful leisure is a source of meaning in everyday life

www.nature.com/articles/s44...

Effortful leisure is a source of meaning in everyday life - Communications Psychology

Five studies, including experiments and experience-sampling, show effortful leisure feels more meaningful than less effortful leisure while maintaining enjoyment. Results suggest effortful leisure can...

www.nature.com

1 3 11

Bryan Hansel @bryanhansel.com · Sep 2

I just wrote about when fall colors typically happen on Minnesota’s north shore, and I may have to eat my words. The maples are already starting to turn and in some areas it’s surprisingly early!

substack.com/home/post/p-...

When Are Fall Colors on Minnesota's North Shore

When do the fall colors typically happen on Minnesota's North Shore? After decades of photographing them, here's my answer.

substack.com

2 2 18

Bryan Hansel @bryanhansel.com · Sep 1

I think this is at about the final stage of this map. I'm slowly realigning sections of the Superior Hiking Trail to Strava Heat Maps. After that's finished, I'll be able to redo the mile markers and then finish up the labeling on all the maps. Then I'm calling it done for this edition.

7

Bryan Hansel @bryanhansel.com · Sep 1

We canoed into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness to find the Viking Dolmen. My 10yo spent a long time trying to find the rumored runes that were carved into the stone. He couldn't see find them.

29

Bryan Hansel @bryanhansel.com · Aug 31

Hopefully after this year the events change from just the Fitzgerald to recognizing all the wrecks and lives lost on Lake Superior. There are many accidents just as tragic as the Fitzgerald, but the pretty song about the Fitz keeps it in people's memories.

1 2

Bryan Hansel @bryanhansel.com · Aug 31

There's something about those old maps that are beautiful.

1

Bryan Hansel @bryanhansel.com · Aug 31

Updated my speed records to reflect a 49-day, 1,350-mile SUP trip. It's a first, but was non-continuous as the paddler returned home for a week during the trip.

www.paddlinglight.com/articles/lak...

Lake Superior Circumnavigation Speed Records

Reliable tracking of Lake Superior Circumnavigation speed records remains difficult due to limited record-keeping, but here's what I know.

www.paddlinglight.com

9

Bryan Hansel @bryanhansel.com · Aug 23

I'd rather be canoeing than working today. Instead I'm at my computer finishing up a few projects.

1 2 27

Bryan Hansel @bryanhansel.com · Aug 22

These are just my tracks after I did the ride. I wasn't following a GPS route or using a map routing app.

1