Francis Xavier, Unofficial Networks Journalist Profile

Articles

Hammock Camping Tent Company Raises $250,000 In 4 Days

1 week ago | unofficialnetworks.com | Francis Xavier

Congratulations to Haven Tents (headquartered at the foot of the Wasatch Mountains in Sandy, Utah) who just raised a $250,000 in a matter of days to fund production of their newest product, The Haven Spectre lay-flat hammock camping tent. Haven Tents has been in business since 2019 designing lay-flat hammock tents.
The United Nations Declares 2025 "The Year of The Glacier"

1 week ago | unofficialnetworks.com | Francis Xavier

The United Nations has declared 2025 the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation with an initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to help protect the 200,000 glaciers around the world that provide freshwater to over 2 billion people. “When glaciers disappear, so does the freshwater source for billions of people around the world.
These Alta Skiers Old School Style Is A Breath of Fresh Air

1 week ago | unofficialnetworks.com | Francis Xavier

Difficult to pinpoint when pole planting jump turns went out of style but lets just say these Alta skiers were likely not even born when it was en vogue. While they might just be having a bit of goof with their jeans, gators, and mirrored sunglasses, their homage to the good old days of hotdogging is really honestly refreshing.
Daring Rescue of California Hiker "Death Gripping" To Steep Cliff (VIDEO)

1 week ago | unofficialnetworks.com | Francis Xavier

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit just released a video of an incredibly intense rescue operation from April 13th of a woman who had slipped and fallen partway down a steep cliff while hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. Weighed down with a heavy backpack and perched on steep and unstable ground, the woman managed to send an SOS via Garmin inReach Mini but could not move from her position.
Ski Resort Celebrates 90th Anniversary With 90-Cent Lift Tickets

1 week ago | unofficialnetworks.com | Francis Xavier

Lookout Pass Ski Area is wrapping up their 90th season of operation with an incredible deal on lift tickets. The historic ski resort located on the border of Idaho and Montana is offering 90-cent lift tickets this Friday. The resort was built by a “few ardent ski pioneers” who installed a rope tow powered by the engine from an abandoned car they found on the old Yellowstone Highway (now called I-90) back in 1935.
“The Dutch Reach” This Commonsense Protocol Protects Against Dooring Bikers

1 week ago | unofficialnetworks.com | Francis Xavier

This incredibly simple commonsense technique is taught in driver education courses in the Netherlands where cycling is a mainstay mode of transportation and you should familiarize yourself with it to protect against dooring accidents. It really couldn’t be much simpler, instead of using the hand closest to the door, reach across with the hand furthest from the door.
Utah Hiker Discovered After Hours Stuck Upside Down With Leg Wedged In Rock Wall

1 week ago | unofficialnetworks.com | Francis Xavier

A 32-year-old man is in critical condition after taking a fall in Little Cottonwood Canyon Sunday afternoon and getting stuck in an inverted position for hours. Details are sparse but around 1:00pm the hiker fell and managed to get his leg stuck in some rocks near Lizard Head Wall where was left upside down for hours, unable to self-rescue or apparently call for help. The man was found by people who called for rescue.
Environmentalist Slam “Unsustainable” Management of Europe's Most Visited National Park

1 week ago | unofficialnetworks.com | Francis Xavier

An environmentalist has taken to social media to call out Tenerife’s council for what he describes as shameful treatment of Teide National Park which is a Unesco Heritage site.
Norwegian Snowboarder Lands World's First Switch Backside Quad 1620

1 week ago | unofficialnetworks.com | Francis Xavier

History was made once again been made at Swatch Nines where Norwegian snowboarder Oyvind Kirkhus landed the first-ever Switch Backside Quad 1620. Oyvind took the center approach on the unique round-shaped jump with five multifunctional take-offs built on the slopes of Schilthorn Piz Gloria in Switzerland.
What Its Like Riding The Steepest Chairlift In North America

1 week ago | unofficialnetworks.com | Francis Xavier

Built by Riblet in 1960, the 7th Heaven chairlift at Stevens Pass Ski Area in Skykomish, Washington has the distinction as the steepest chairlift in America. The chairlift climbs 437 feet over a span of 657 feet (slope length to vertical ratio of ~1.8) where it delivers skiers and snowboarders to top of Cowboy Mountain to access expert only terrain. The iconic chairlift got its name from its incredible views from atop Cowboy Mountain.