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2014 Outdoor Retailer Winter Market Highlights
The 2014 Outdoor Retailer Winter Market presents an overwhelming array of products to assess and be dazzled by. After a couple of days wandering the halls of the outdoor retailer show, here are some of my impressions: Backcountry Ski Touring: As the winter oriented show, it’s not surprising that there were tons of backcountry […]
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Patagonia Ascensionist 25L Pack
15.8 ounces (with add-on shock cord compression straps.) The Patagonia Ascensionist pack line is Patagonia’s new foray into making backpacks. The 25 liter pack is the smallest of the line-up, suited for day trips and traditional alpine climbs from huts. The Ascensionist 25L pack is stripped down to the bare essentials. The suspension is […]
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Rab Boreas Pull-On
The Rab Boreas Pull-On is a strange soft shell. It’s not very wind resistant. It’s not very water resistant. Currently, outdoor clothing companies all seem to be making their softshell clothing more and more weather resistant, blurring the line between hard and soft shells. The Boreas goes the other direction. It’s a softshell that provides […]
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Backcountry Skiing in the Sierras (Mammoth to Tioga Pass)
The last week in March, me and 3 friends skied from Mammoth Lakes to Tioga Pass. We started skiing Tuesday morning, and reached the car Saturday, early afternoon. We passed through some truly spectacular country. Here are some details of our trip. We drove to Lee Vining, and left our car at a parking […]
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Desert Trout
Fly fishing in Utah can be a unique experience. Much of the state is arid desert, with lots of sand, sandstone, and sagebrush. With extremely hot summer temperatures, and barren surroundings, these desert regions wouldn’t seem like a good place to go fishing. However, a combination of cold mountain snow-melt and cold water springs can […]
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Michael D. Clark (South Creek) Bamboo Fly Rod
Michael D. Clark (South Creek Ltd.) 8 foot, 5 weight, 3 piece, 2 tip, Ruby taper “Uinta” South Creek web site. I love bamboo fly rods. I have a web page devoted to that infatuation HERE. Over the last decade, I’ve collected and fished a number of bamboo fly rods. This rod represents the culmination […]
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Hyperlite Mountain Gear Echo II Shelter
1 pound, 12.5 ounces (tarp, inner tent, beak, and stuff sack.) 5.5 ounces (12 aluminum stakes and small stuff sack.) Total packed weight of full tent with 12 stakes: 34 ounces (2 pounds, 2 ounces) The Echo II from Hyperlite Mountain Gear is my latest backcountry shelter. It’s a hybrid tarp/tent made mostly from lighweight […]
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Backcountry Fishing Kit
I love backcountry fly fishing. When I’m fishing the backcountry, I typically have to do a fair amount of hiking to get to the waters I’m going to fish. Weight and space are at a premium. Many roadside fishermen carry a lot of fishing paraphernalia; enough to fill a fishing vest. If you’re fishing close to […]
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Knives and other cutting tools
A knife has got to be one of the first tools that early man created. When you’re in the wilderness, you often have the need to cut things, and having a knife along can be pretty handy. Because knives are so useful, it’s no surprise that primitive people worked on making knives from flint, […]
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Overloaded on the Uinta Highline Trail
I just got back from the Uinta Highline Trail. This trail follows the spine of Utah’s Uinta Wilderness Area. It traverses about 70 miles, and requires a bit over 15,000 feet of vertical gain (and corresponding vertical loss.) The route pretty much stays above 10,000 feet altitude, with multiple 12,000+ foot passes. Scenery […]