-
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 […]
-
Mammut Smart Alpine Belay/Rappel Device
Mammut Smart Alpine Belay/Rappel Device 4.4 ounces I’ve been using the Mammut Smart Alpine device for several months now. It has become my favorite belay/rappel device. Its primary defining feature is that it is an autoblocking device, much like the well-known Gri Gri. It isn’t guaranteed to hold a fall without help from the […]
-
Cascades Part 2: Forbidden Peak, East Ridge
After our success on Mount Baker’s snow and ice (see part 1 below,) I wanted to try my hand at a rock route. Chris originally thought that the Torment-Forbidden traverse would be a good objective, but the weather window looked a bit questionable, so we ultimately decided on a shorter objective. We drove up […]
-
Cascades, Part 1: Mount Baker North Ridge
I had been looking forward to a trip to the Cascades for several months. Plane tickets bought, plans made. I’d been training, dreaming, putting together gear lists, etc. However, as the time to go drew near, my friend I was going with told me that he wasn’t going to be able to go. His work […]
-
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Ice Pack
The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Ice Pack is a lightweight alpine pack that I have been using lately for big days and light overnights in the mountains. The ice pack is about 40 liters (2,400 cubic inches) in capacity, and can hold everything I need for a day of ice climbing or winter alpine climbing day […]
-
Outdoor photography gear update Part 1: Pocket Cameras
Outdoor photography gear update Part 1: Pocket Cameras This update addresses Pocket Cameras. A follow on update will address Micro 4/3 system cameras and lenses, including the new Olympus OMD E-M5 I almost never go into the outdoors without a camera. I love taking pictures of the places I visit and the things I do. […]
-
Phone, GPS, and Emergency Beacon
Casio Commando Android Phone with Backcountry Navigator Software (5.4 ounces) Delorme inReach Satellite Communicator (8.6 ounces) For many years, I didn’t even own a cell phone or a GPS. I didn’t take a cell phone to work, much less into the backcountry. Given the uncertainty over cell coverage, it didn’t seem worth the extra weight. These […]
-
Sleeping Pads
This blog entry focuses on various sleeping pads I’ve used over the years. Left hand column, top to bottom: Prolite Plus; Prolite3; Ortik; Karrimat Evazote; MEC Winter Evazote; MEC bivi thin evazote; Ridgerest Right hand column, top to bottom: NeoAir; Exped Synmat; NeoAir AllSeason; NeoAir XTherm; Klymit X-Frame; Klymit X-Lite Closed Cell Foam Sleeping Pads […]
-
Teton Crest Ski Tour
April 9-12 I just returned from a four day trip skiing along the Teton Crest trail. We started the trip at Teton Pass at the base of Mount Glory, and 4 days later, came out Cascade Canyon. It was one of the best ski trips I’ve ever been on. Scenery was fantastic and we had […]
-
Sleeping Bags
Sleeping Bags Down or synthetic fill? This question has probably occupied the minds of climbers at least as much as any other gear question. Like the debate regarding Ginger and Maryanne, there is no definitive answer. I have both synthetic and down filled sleeping bags. Here’s how I choose: If I’m only out for […]