GSI Bugaboo Basecamper Cook set – nested

This cook set beats all other camping cook sets hands down.  Full disclosure:  We love GSI products.  We have the GSI dualist backpacking set, an older GSI cook set, and even a GSI kettle for camping.  This set though?  This set takes the cake.  Here are the specs from GSI:

Teflon coated.

Includes 3 and 5 liter pots.

The lids are crush-proof, heat-resistant nylon with silicone rings.

The cutting board has a flat and a dished side for various needs.

The cook set also includes a frying pan and a folding gripper handle that locks onto the 3 L pot and frying pan.

5 L pot, 3 L pot with lid, frying pan with gripper handle, and cutting board

On our first night out I was most excited to try the strainer in the lid.  Our older set has plastic lids that are difficult to use as straining devices.  So I decided to make a pasta dish for dinner since I knew then we’d have to strain something.  The 5 L pot is great.  It’s deep but not too wide, so it even sits fine on our one-burner Primus stove.

5 L GSI pot

Straining was a breeze because the lid doesn’t get too hot! I could hold it shut and strain the pasta with ease. No burns, no water dribbling around the edges, nothing!

I later mixed the pasta, veggies, and sauce all in the same pot and the Teflon coating worked so well it hardly needed cleaning. Nothing stuck to it at all. Since it’s so big, we actually used it as our wash pot as well.

The next day I was super excited to use the frying pan to make pancakes. I thought we’d truly test out the non-stick coating.

Attaching the gripper handle to the frying pan

I used maybe 2 tsp of oil in the pan. I wanted to use as little as possible to really see how non-stick this pan was.

Here is giant pancake #1.

After the flip! No sticking at all from the GSI frying pan.

Finally, just because I love it so, I have to show off our GSI kettle.

GSI kettle – holds the perfect amount of water for 2 giant cups of coffee.

My overall assessment is that everyone who likes to camp should have this cook set. It nests and has a mesh bag to hold everything. There is even room inside the 3 liter pot to hold a small one-burner stove or tea kettle. Everything cleans up easily and the lids stay cool enough to touch while straining water from the pot. The Bugaboo Basecamper Large cook set retails for $79.95 and is worth every penny for avid campers.

Thanks to GSI Outdoors for allowing us to review this great cook set.

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Andrew hiking along the top of the Big Green Mountain cliff.

Contributing to the Yosemite-feel are several granite faces that stretch for thousands of feet along the sides of some of the mountains, with cliffs as high as 300-400 feet. As you can imagine, the views from the top are fantastic! But Panthertown isn’t just a one-trick pony: there are many more natural attractions, including at least 8 major waterfalls, many more minor waterfalls, beautiful streams and rivers, and unique flora and ecosystems.

As a result of all of these things to see and do, this breathtaking valley is an increasingly popular hiking and backpacking destination. Despite the increasing traffic, Panthertown still maintains a very raw, wilderness feel. While it might feel like wilderness, it is technically a part of the Nantahala National Forest. As a result, many of the trails are also open to mountain bikes and some are open to horses, although there is little indication of significant traffic from either.

In my opinion, this is one of the things that truly sets Panthertown apart: there are just so many different ways you can enjoy its wild beauty! While you can always come to hike and backpack, be sure to pack the rock climbing gear, the mountain bike, and the fishing pole too!

The network design of the trail system can make it easy to get lost at times, so bring a map. Most of the main trails are marked on National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map #785 and have corresponding USFS trail markers. However, there is veritable spider web of unmarked footpaths branching off the main conduits that generally lead to interesting attractions like cliff access points, waterfalls, and rivers. There is officially about 30 miles of trails in the valley, but if you factor in the plethora of spur trails, there is no telling how many miles of trail there are to explore!

While the scope of the trail system can be daunting, if you buy a good map (see above) and stick to the main paths, the network design can transform Panthertown into a great beginner’s backpacking destination. Since you are never more than a few miles from your car, the commitment is very minimal. You can do a multi-day backpacking expedition, see a significant amount of the area, and still end up back at your car where you started. Or, if you’d rather, you can just do a quick overnight and only cover a few miles. As a result, the logistics of hiking in Panthertown are much simpler than doing an epic point-to-point hike on the Appalachian Trail. There’s no need to worry about reaching your destination in a set amount of time to meet your shuttle, removing all of the headache and letting the submersive experience of backpacking in the wilderness take over.

If you are looking for a great East Coast destination for your next backpacking trip, be sure to put the Yosemite of the East on your short list!

Related posts:

1. “Yogi Bear” Absconds w/ Picnic Basket in Yosemite (video)
2. Yosemite Sam Wants His Beard Back!
3. Hiking and backpacking in Ocala National Forest

If you are striving to get your photography featured as an outdoor photo of the day here on Tripleblaze.com, there are a few things that you can keep in mind to help increase your chances of being featured:

• Your photo has a much better chance of being selected if it makes good use of basic artistic elements. Some of these elements include composition, lighting, and color.
• If your photo captures a truly spectacular landscape, it has a good chance of being featured.
• However, shooting in a beautiful area is not required. Another great way to have your photo featured is to capture the essence of hiking or camping in a unique way. Try shooting a photo from a unique perspective or in a unique situation–there’s so much more to outdoor photography than mountain peaks and waterfalls!

Finally, we want to be clear that you don’t have to be a professional photographer to have your image featured as a POD… you don’t even need to own a professional-grade camera. If you enjoy taking photos with your point-and-shoot and you think you have a couple of great images, we would love to see them! While we won’t be featuring just any old snapshot, the bar isn’t set so high that only the elite can reach it.

Get Started

So get started submitting photos by uploading them to any of the Tripleblaze.com pages, such as trails, campgrounds, and gear pages. We can’t wait to check them out!

For now, if you need a little inspiration, check out these 7 amazing photos from the previous week:

“Heating up some summer sausage in the Ocala National Forest.” Florida. Photo: Ramblin’ Man Dan.

“Riverwalk Trail (The front bridge in this photo is a foot bridge ONLY) is part of an 18 Mile Multi purpose Trail system that runs through Northshore of Chattanooga Tennessee. It is also where you would access McCleland Island Bird Sanctuary reached only by boat, canoe seadoo or kayak.” Photo: Melissa Peacock.

“A glimpse from above of the fantastic Little Canyon Trail in the Gemini Bridges area of Moab, UT.” Photo: Beau Marx.

“View from “Andy’s Loop” at the Tabeguache trails.” Grand Junction, Colorado. Photo: mtbikerchick.

“Doudy Draw Trail and the Flatirons in Boulder, CO.” Photo: telern.

Andrew exploring the top of the rock face on Big Green Mountain in Panthertown Valley, North Carolina. Photo: mtbgreg1.

“The La Sal Mountains just east of Moab, UT.” Photo: MountainMan.

Related posts:

1. Outdoor Photo of the Day
2. Outdoor Photo of the Day + Enhanced Trail Maps
3. August Outdoor Review & Photo Contest Winners

My tent is the tiny yellow MSR up on the hill.

Since we were here, we decided to hike Hunter Canyon on Saturday. We got a late start, but by 1:30 (yes, 1:30) we were standing at the trail register reading the description of the hike. It included something along the lines of “Distance: 4 miles round trip. Duration: 4 hours.”

“Ha! Yeah right…4 hours. It won’t take us that long,” someone said.

We set off up the sandy trail to explore. Surely, we thought, it won’t take us 4 hours to go 4 miles! Hunter Canyon is beautiful. There is a stream that manages to snake its way through the desert canyon, over and under rocks, from beginning to end.

Spring flowers were blooming and the rock formations were definitely photo-worthy. Little arches in rocks, made by wind and water, just called for attention.

Tiny arches in rocks along the trail

Blooming Barrell Cactus

Desert primrose

It was hot. So hot. After a while even the flowers blooming all around us took a backseat to the heat. I kept dipping my hat in the stream and sipping water. Still, I was afraid I was going to run out at every sip. Supposedly there was an arch at the end of Hunter Canyon. We found this, but it looks nothing like an arch.

“Did we take a wrong turn? Was there another cairn back there?” someone asked. So we turned around, after reaching the very very last possible can’t-go-any-further end of one canyon. There was indeed another cairn marking another trail. We headed in that direction across some high meadows, criss-crossing the stream, and eventually found a nice cool pool of water and some shade.

At this point it was 3:15. We’d had a good hike so far, but we still had to get back to the campsite… at least 3 miles away. So we turned around. We hadn’t encountered any amazing arches, but we’d seen tiny desert flowers, tiny waterfalls, and huge rock formations. The hike out was quiet. Everyone was tired and running low on water. We stumbled back into “civilization” at Hunter Campground and said, “We should have driven down here.”

With a mile to go to get back to camp we started walking back up Kane Creek Road. All I could think about was having a nice cold beer and some chips. And ice cream. Maybe a sandwich. In the end, this canyon hike falls under the “it was an adventure!” category. It’s beautiful and I highly recommend it, but I also recommend heeding the “duration” description. It will take you four hours. Prepare accordingly with plenty of water, snacks and sunscreen.

By the way, THIS is what an arch should look like!

Sunday’s hike was to Delicate Arch in Arches National Park.

Related posts:

1. Backpacking Colorado Canyon Country
2. Cave Canyon Nature Preserve Opens for Preview
3. Grand Canyon North Rim Trip Report

You can never go wrong with the cinematography of a National Geographic Documentary, and this film is no exception.  I would suggest finding a friend with the largest and highest-def TV to watch the breathtaking panoramic views that will inspire anyone to get out on the Appalachian Trail, also known as the AT.

The film divides the AT up into its regions starting in the Southern Appalachians, working its way northward through the Virginia Highlands, the Mid-Atlantic Lowlands, and finally to the Northeast. Along the way you will learn the history, culture and secrets of the AT. You will be introduced to the hikers and individuals who are the heart and soul of the Trail while getting rare a glimpse into their lives.

I was surprised to learn a few things from this documentary such as the term “trail magic,” a random act of kindness one experiences along the trail. This is something you cannot truly appreciate until you have actually been on the trail and once you do, it’s something that sticks with you the whole trip.

Overall this film is great for anyone, from the experienced outdoorsman to the novice, this film will inspire you to get out on the trail. This is a great introduction to the AT and may be helpful if you know someone who has, or will be embarking on a pilgrimage into the wilds of the Eastern United States.

As the film states, the Appalachian Trail is about overcoming obstacles, from our personal challenges found out on the trail to trail preservation. Whatever the obstacle, we can overcome it one step at a time.

America’s Wild Spaces: Appalachian Trail. National Geographic. 2009. (50 min)

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3. Appalachian Trail News

Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis sauritus)

Friday was the last day of exams. I was done normalizing wavefunctions, evaluating a particle in a box, and other physical chemistry concepts and it was time to unwind by hitting the trail! You would be surprised how many places there are to hike, even in the more urban areas of Palm Beach County. Within a 20 minute drive of downtown West Palm Beach, my favorite destination is Apoxee Urban Wilderness Park.

Apoxee lies on the southeastern corner of Grassy Waters Preserve and is bordered to the north by The Solid Waste Authority Conservation Area.  From the 1950s on, South Florida’s population experienced a boom, resulting in the urban sprawl expanding westward into the northeastern portions of the Everglades watershed.  Grassy Waters and Apoxee parks are a part of a continuing effort by the city to restore these wetlands to their natural beauty. From educating the public to killing forests of invasive Melaleuca and Australian pine, the battle has been long, but the progress is noticeable.

Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana)

Walking Apoxee Trail is a unique experience. The trail is raised above the waterline either by small levees or long boardwalks, keeping the trail high and dry most of the year. It was Saturday afternoon, overcast with light rain expected–my favorite hiking conditions! As I was going down the trail I noticed a little queen snake at my feet. After a few minutes for a photo shoot I continued on. Meandering through the mosaic of habitats the air was filled with the smell of moist soil and cypress. Dead Melaleuca trees surround the trail, killed within the last few years by crews armed with herbicide and machetes. By contrast, the native bald cypress and Cocoplum with bright green new shoots stand as if trying to reclaim what once was their domain.

Baby Raccoon (Procyon lotor)

I continued along a canal, safely on top of the levee away from several alligators, but surrounded by beauty from orchids along the trail and bromeliads in the trees. Everything seemed to be in full bloom just for me.

On one side of the levee is the canal and on the other, a network of pipelines pouring reclaimed water into the wetlands. These pipes provide on average eight million gallons of water per day for the wetlands to operate the way these wetlands had for thousands of years. Father down the trail I ran into a family of raccoons completely oblivious to my presence until I was within a few yards. By the end of the afternoon I ended up hiking 11 miles and not once did I come across another hiker! Not a bad way to end the semester! 

Related posts:

1. Do signs on hiking trails diminish the wilderness experience?
2. Urban hiking
3. Wilderness Volunteer Vacations

These aren’t just run-of-the-mill snapshots. These are images that usually require the photographer to go out of their way to capture the beauty of the scene, and most are true works of art.

We search through all the photos submitted to Tripleblaze.com and the Tripleblaze Facebook Page to find the absolute best photos each week. If you want your photo featured as a POD, all you have to do is upload it to the website (uploading it to a regular trail page or campground page works). Be sure to include key information like your name (name of the photographer), a URL to your website for attribution (optional), the location the photograph was taken, and the names of anyone in the image (also optional).

We’re looking forward to checking out your camping and hiking photos!

Here are the past seven photos that we featured as PODs. Afraid you’ve missed other past PODs? Check out the Photo of the Day Gallery to see all of the images we’ve featured in the past.

“I came across this gem on my hike at North Woods Branch Trail in Christmas, Florida.” Photo: Melissa Peacock.

“Sunrise there’s a fire in the sky.” Everglades National Park, Florida. Photo: Ramblin’ Man Dan.

Morocco. Photo: Titan Desert.

Backpacking in Ocala National Forest, Florida. Photo: FLTrekker.

“Deep Creek above the tubing drop in point.” Bryson City, North Carolina. Photo: Sarah Hikes.

Trail: Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Photo: MountainMan.

Tom Branch Falls, Bryson City, North Carolina. Photo: Sarah Hikes.

Coming next week: How to get your photo featured as a Photo of the Day.

Related posts:

1. Outdoor Photo of the Day + Enhanced Trail Maps
2. August Outdoor Review & Photo Contest Winners
3. December Outdoor Photo & Review Contest Winners

The La Sal Mountains just east of Moab, UT.

Congratulations to last month’s $25 Backcountry.com gift card winners: Melissa Peacock, Ramblin’ Man Dan, and Lightfoot. These folks were our top outdoor review and photo contributors in April!

Want to be a top contributor in May?  Start adding your hiking trail and campground photos and reviews now and don’t forget we’ll also award the top outdoor gear reviewer of the month. Don’t forget to reserve your campground for Memorial Day weekend which is right around the corner.

Right now we’re working on a major update to the Tripleblaze iPhone app with access to the blog, photo of the day, and our new cave section. For those with iPads the new app will also be optimized so look for that coming soon!

Related posts:

1. April Contest Winners
2. April Contest Winners
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Next up in the quest for the perfect backpacking boot was a pair of Vasque Breeze GTX boots.  These lasted me through several backpacking trips.  They were sturdy and warm, they stayed dry when crossing creeks, and they weren’t too heavy.  Still, I had to wear latex toe protectors to protect those poor pinky toes – and painful blisters were a part of every trip.  I just assumed that’s how my feet were going to be.  We didn’t backpack this past year (2011) so when I put those boots on in November for a long day hike it was the first time I’d worn them in almost a year and a half.  One foot in and I thought How did I ever wear these? I’m sure these boots work great for a lot of people but not me.

So in late January we took a trip to the big city of Salt Lake and I was able to look for boots at an REI store with a large selection.  My feet are pretty flat and wide so I could just wear the shoebox itself and probably be more comfortable than I am in a lot of shoes.  However, I have a narrow heel.  You see the issue?  Nothing can be simple with my feet.  I’d picked out three brands with “wide” shoes to try:  Oboz, Lowa, and Salomon.  The Oboz felt okay, but I could tell my toes would still get pinched in them.  Next I put on the Salomon Quests.

Boots on (though not fully laced) and ready for the hike.

It felt like my feet had finally found their sole mates.  I wiggled my toes.  Plenty of room there.  I laced the boots up.  A little high, but then again I haven’t worn boots in a while.  I walked a few steps.  Ahhhhhh.  I stepped up on the slanted rock provided at the store for the very purpose of checking how boots handle steep ups and downs.  No heel slippage on the up.  I can’t even feel the heel! I stomped down the rock trying to slam my toes into the front of the boot.  Wow.  My foot did not slip at all!

I got off the rock, took off the boots, and tried on the Lowas.  They were supposed to be a “wide” width, but felt way more narrow than the Salomons.  I put the Salomons in the box, hugged the box to my chest, and ran for the register.  These babies were mine!

This past weekend I finally had a chance to get out in my new boots.  I brought them in to work so I could change before heading to the trails.  Co-workers stopped to look at them and one even said, “They look heavy.”

“Pick them up,” I countered.  She did.

“Holy cow!  Those are so light!”  (they weigh 1lb. 6 oz. each.) Salomon attributes this and the comfort and stability of the boot in part to “our most advanced trail running technologies.”  Whatever it is, it works.

As I got dressed for my hike, I have to admit it took a bit to get used to the height of these boots.  They’re not mid-cut or low-cut, they are straight-up, high-cut boots.

My friend and I met at the trail head and headed through a rocky drainage and up a steep switch-backing trail.  On the steep uphills the heel didn’t slip.  As odd as this may sound, somehow the boot cups your heel without really touching the heel.  I never felt as if anything was loose or shifting, but I also never got a hot spot, never felt a rub, nothing.

These boots have great grip too.  We were on loose and sandy soil at times and I felt stable.  This is great news for when I’ll be backpacking with an extra 30lbs, heading down steep and rocky terrain.  I also noticed that, when going downhill, that high cut ankle part was really flexible front-to-back.  Side-to-side it was nice and stiff, so I didn’t worry about twisting an ankle, but the boot was really comfortable when flexing going downhill.  As with my test in the store, my toes didn’t hit the front of the boot either.

View from "Andy's Loop" at the Tabeguache trails.

For me, one last important feature is the toe bumper.  We were on super rocky trails and more than once I didn’t pick my foot up high enough and my boot slammed into rocks.  I felt no pain.  That toe bumper is solid!

I had one issue with some soreness on the side of my foot, but I really think that was because I had them laced too tight.  Also, the boots are warm – but they’re Gore-Tex so I expected they wouldn’t be quite as breathable as some others.

Overall I’m excited for backpacking season with these boots!  No more toe protectors!  No more tape!  No more hobbling around camp at night!

You can tell by the toe bumpers these are now officially MY boots! Broken in and ready for backpacking.

Related posts:

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3. Hi-Tec V-Lite Snowflake Chukka 200i Review

Green blaze marking the trail

Growing up in Florida has given me the opportunity to regularly visit some of the most popular tourist areas in the US but early last summer I was looking for some new territories to explore. I discovered that there are 35 different State Forests within Florida that encompass over 1 million acres of land. This was interesting to find out because I hadn’t heard of any of them before! Upon doing some more research I discovered the Florida Trailwalker Program.

Starting one of the trails from the trail list.

This is a program that was created by the Florida Forest Service to get more people outdoors and exploring the beauty of nature. The program consists of a list of about 45 different trails located within the forests. The objective is to hike a trail on the list, fill out a survey card which can be found at each trailhead, add the hike to your Trailwalker’s Log, send in the survey card, and receive a sticker through the mail to add to your Log.

When you have completed 10 trails and received 10 stickers you can send in your log and become an official Trailwalker. The Florida Forest Service will send you a commemorative certificate and a sew-on patch that is one of 3 that complete a whole design. Once you have hiked 20 trails you can send in that log and receive Trailblazer status and get another piece of the patch and certificate. When you have hiked a total of 30 trails from the list you become an honorary Trailmaster of Florida State Forests and will receive the last piece of the patch and a final certificate.

Trail List, Trailwalker's Log, survey card, and my first patch

If you live in Florida or are a frequent visitor to the state this is an excellent program to get involved in. There is no cost to participate although some of the forests have a day use fee of $2 per vehicle. A one year pass can be purchased for unlimited visits through the Friends of Florida State Forests website for $30. This is a great way to get motivated about visiting State Forests. You will be able to feel a sense of accomplishment with every sticker added to your Trailwalker’s Log and a sense of satisfaction about discovering nature at its finest.

Suwannee River at Big Shoals State Forest

So far I have visited 6 of the forests and hiked 13 trails from the Trail List so I’m on my way to becoming a Trailblazer. The most interesting forest I’ve been to so far is the Big Shoals State Forest which is located just outside a town called White Springs, at the intersection of I-75 and I-10 in North Florida. An article was just published about Big Shoals in the Florida State Forest magazine issue of Winter 2012. It is highlighted because of its Class III whitewater rapids on the Suwannee River when the river level is between 59 and 61 feet in elevation.  As you might imagine, these are the largest whitewater rapids in all of Florida. They attract canoe and kayak enthusiasts and many other visitors year-round. This is just one of the many interesting features of a Florida State Forest – so much more to be discovered on the way to becoming a Trailmaster.

Hiking the North Loop at Myakka State Forest

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2. Hiking and backpacking in Ocala National Forest
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The town of Bryson City is located at the southern edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This is a very popular destination for tourists and natives alike because the town is completely encircled by mountains and many of the National Park trails are easily accessible from town. There is one area near Bryson City called Deep Creek and it is one of my favorite places. There are multiple hiking trails, three waterfalls, natural swimming holes, and the main attraction – whitewater tubing on Deep Creek.

During my summer vacation I decided to hike the Deep Creek Loop – a fairly easy, mostly level, 4-mile long loop that starts out on Deep Creek Trail, parallel to Deep Creek. The loop takes you over Deep Creek and onto the Loop Trail, over another bridge and onto Indian Creek Trail, then back to your starting point. The bridges over the two creeks provide excellent views over the water. There are also two waterfalls on the trail – Indian Creek Falls and Tom Branch Falls.

Deep Creek Trail

The hiking here was different than most of the secluded hiking trails I’m used to. There was no shortage of people enjoying this beautiful place – families with children, couples, and groups of teenagers everywhere. Many people were taking a hike or biking on one of the multi-use trails. And there were just as many people in the water taking a trip down Deep Creek as there were on the trail!

The tubers seemed to be having lots of fun but the idea of getting propelled down a rapidly rushing body of cold water sent shivers down my spine. I started going up the trail but began having second thoughts about deciding not to try tubing. Everyone was carrying a tube and it made me feel like I was missing something. I was only about 5 minutes up the trail and could already hear people in the water laughing and screaming with excitement. I was still terrified about tubing but it was something I just had to try. I started asking people where they got their tubes and how much it would cost and then turned around and walked straight back to the car.

So an hour later I was driving 10 mph, holding onto a rental tube thrown on top of my car. I got back to the parking area, grabbed my tube and started hiking once again up Deep Creek Trail. It was a flat uphill climb with a canopy of trees above, a steep hill to the right and Deep Creek running alongside on the left. Wherever there was a break in the trees I could see the creek and the people on their tubes floating downstream quickly. I heard several screams on the hike up the trail and then came to a point where I could see what all the commotion was about. There was a spot on the creek that had what looked like a 3-foot drop where you could easily go down at the wrong angle and flip over into the water.

At this point I had butterflies in my stomach and considered going back and admitting defeat. But my curiosity and sense of adventure made me keep going up the trail. After about 20 minutes of walking uphill I came to the final drop-in point. It was either now or never. I took off my flip flops and tied them to the inner tube handle with a ripped plastic bag. I didn’t bring any water shoes so this was the only way to keep my flip flops with me while I traveled downstream. I got in the creek and even though it was summertime, the water was freezing. I stood there for a minute and watched young children all around me hopping on their tubes and taking off. I decided that if they could do it, then I could too.

Deep Creek above the tubing drop in point

I wriggled up on my tube, grabbed onto the handles, relinquished all control of what was about to happen, and let the creek take me. I had been tubing before but only in Florida and this was a completely different experience. The cold water was splashing up on me from every angle. I was traveling at what felt like 90 mph, and every upcoming rock looked like it could be the death of me. Before long I could see the horrifying 3-foot drop that had been taunting me for the past 15 minutes. I held my breath and hoped for the best. It felt like being on a roller coaster ride, but I survived unscathed. I floated on down the creek and just when I thought I was safe I noticed a very long branch jutting out over the creek hanging only about 18” above the water. I had to grab on to the branch and bend backwards to make it under.

Tom Branch Falls

After that I was ok for a few seconds, until I went over a big rock and got catapulted out of the tube. It was very hard trying to stand up in the rushing water, while reaching for my runaway tube. I kept getting knocked down and my legs got scratched on the rocks under the water. Finally, I reached my tube, hopped back on and drifted along on the now calmer water.

When I reached the exit point I grabbed the tube, got out of the water, and started the hike back up the trail for a second test at fate. I was scratched up and shivering from the cold water but the sheer adrenaline rush had me begging for more. I couldn’t believe how scared I was to do something that ended up being so much fun. I always look back on this day as being one of the most exhilarating days I’ve spent out on a trail. What could have been just another ordinary hike turned out to be so much more.  I hiked up Deep Creek Trail by foot and got carried back down via whitewater tubing on the creek!

Related posts:

1. American Hiking Society Supports 10 Favorite Hiking Trails
2. Camping & Hiking in the Smoky Mountains
3. Extreme hiking: glaciers

We started the hike early in the morning as my grandfather dropped us off at the trailhead and took our picture. The morning was just cool enough to require the use of a lightweight jacket; actually it was perfect hiking weather.  We started down the trail that wandered its way up and down the sandy hills of Ocala. The trail was mostly compact sand, but in places there was loose “sugar sand” as we call it due to its grain size. This area of Florida is actually quite hilly and has some of the higher elevations in the state. The hills of Ocala were created millions of years ago as the limestone bedrock eroded then uplifted, creating peaks as high as 312 feet (that is high for Florida!). During the last ice age, Florida was connected to what is now the southwestern region of the United States, which explains the cactus and other desert-looking plant life we encountered.

A few hours later and five miles down the trail we slumped on the side of the trail to take a break along a small creek. We were surrounded by brilliant shades green – new leaves of Hickory, Maple, Cypress and  Red Bay – while our ears were filled with the sounds of the birds, insects, and the wind brushing across the leaves. I could make out the call of mocking birds and cardinals; then in the distance came the call of the large Pileated Woodpecker. As he flew closer, the woods filled with its call, giving us the feeling we were in the middle of a humid Jurassic Forest with the possibility of a dinosaur around the next bend of the trail.

Lucky for us the only blood-thirsty animals around were mosquitoes – oh, and the ever active Florida Black Bear. Every road crossing had signs warning about bear activity in the area, but these signs never provided any pointers to avoid an unwanted visit.  The longer we sat there absorbing our surroundings we started to notice more – a mouse squeaking in the bushes, the fragrant smell of spring blooms in the breeze, and then Shalimar noticed it first… TICKS! They were everywhere! We quickly threw on our packs and continued northward toward Alexander Springs, adding “ticks” to the list of blood thirsty killers surrounding us.

Toward the end of the day we ran into two thru-hikers on the Florida Trail who had started a few months earlier down at Big Cypress National Park on the northern border of the Everglades National Park. The first guy was older – probably in his late 50′s / early 60′s and was resting inside his tent, probably to stay away from the millions of ticks that seemed to multiply the farther north we traveled. The second guy was a younger – in his late 20′s – from North Carolina. We crashed alongside the trail looking exhausted, back and shoulders sore and feet blistered.

At this point Shalimar and I decided we’re going to get ourselves “real” packs since we were using old external frame packs that my brothers and I used for Boy Scouts. I was never a fan of these packs and Shalimar was already planning how she was going to throw down the pack she borrowed from my dad and give him a piece of her mind on his choice of such a heavy, uncomfortable backpack. We loaded up our packs one more time then went down the trail a little farther and found the spur trail to Alexander Springs to fill up on water for dinner, then returned to the trail to set up camp and eat.

Our dinner consisted of freeze-dried food that asked for too much water and turned into more of a soupy slop than actual food, but it was warm and had flavor so it was somewhat enjoyable.  With over 10 miles under our feet today we decided to call it an early night.  I dreamed of ticks and bears all night long. In the middle of the night we woke to coyotes yelping and howling in the distance. As we lay there in silence listening,  Shalimar thought they sounded like they wanted to play; I on the other hand was wondering how fast I could get out of my sleeping bag and what I should arm myself with in the case of an attack. All through the night we woke up hearing the same things – a mouse squeaking from the general location of our bear bag, the occasional breeze, and a few times eerie silence which invokes the feeling that someone or something is lurking outside.

After a rather uncomfortable night we packed up our gear and headed back to Alexander Springs to wait for a ride back to our car. While we waited for the rangers to finish their meeting we took a nap along the spring and enjoyed a wonderful spring day in Florida. The temperature was in the low 80s and sunny, all around enjoyable. The spring water was nice and cold and felt good on my sore feet, but was just little to cold for me to submerge my grubby body.

With a ride back to our car we were back to civilization after an adventure in the woods. We were glad to be inside, away from the millions of ticks with running water and all the food we could eat. After we cleaned up and had dinner with my grandparents, Shalimar admitted she had fun, but we both decided to invest in new backpacks, hiking shoes, and to adopt lightweight backpacking techniques for our next adventure to make it a little more enjoyable.

Related posts:

1. Hiking and backpacking in Ocala National Forest
2. Early Spring On The Florida Peninsula
3. National Forest visits down 13%

Arenal is the centerpiece of the 30,000 acre Arenal Volcano National Park.  At nearly 5,350 feet and growing, it is a perfect stratovolcano that rises over 2,000 feet above the surrounding tropical rainforest. Nestled at its base is Lake Arenal, a 33 square mile reservoir that serves as the catchment for water flowing down the mountain and out through the rainforest. The volcano, reservoir, and tropical rainforest are an exotic mix of ecosystems and landscapes. Experts estimate half of Costa Rica’s land-dwelling vertebrate species, such as birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals live there.

Mount Arenal erupted in 1968. It was an unexpected and abrupt end to nearly 500 years of dormancy. Before 1968, adventure seekers would regularly scale the top of the then dormant mountain and some would even camp in the crater! It’s had a number of smaller eruptions since, so camping and hiking have been limited to specific areas. Despite the danger, hikes and nature walks are very popular in the park, and are the best way to enjoy bird and wildlife watching as well as volcanic activity. The park closes at dark but lava and pyroclastic debris can still be seen flowing and shooting out from the top from the surrounding area on most nights.

It was the loud booming and rumbling of an eruption that woke us up just before dawn the morning of the hike.  I could see and hear glowing orange-red boulders being ejected from the crater and then rolling and crashing down the side of the mountain. Neither of us had ever hiked or even been to a place like this.  It was then that we knew this was really going to be an adventure.

February is the region’s dry season so the temperature was mild and there weren’t many bugs biting when we arrived at the park entrance. There was a cabin where we paid the park ranger a small entrance fee and got a brochure with a map. The ranger instructed us to wet our clothes and wrap them around our nose and mouth in the event of an eruption.  It was unsettling, to say the least, but the fact that this volcano could erupt at any time made me feel alive!

There were deep rumblings under foot as we started on the trail behind the ranger station.  The mile-long Heliconias Trail was our first experience in a jungle. We were led into a lush green corridor as we walked away from the station and toward the mountain and La Miradora.  The vegetation was about twenty feet tall and dense with ferns and heliconias.  Brightly colored spiky-leafed bromeliads were attached to what seemed like every tree branch.  Butterflies and hummingbirds were busy dining on the many flowers.  All kinds of sounds were coming from within the thick wall of leaves and vines the trail was leading us through.  One sound really stood out: it was Montezuma Oropendola.  Those birds made a crackling noise followed by what sounded like a cassette tape playing while fast forwarding.

The new surroundings had our senses heightened as we moved forward another mile or so on the trail to La Miradora (the main lookout).  Once there, we sat on a bench under a shelter where there was a close-up panoramic view.  This was a good spot to listen and watch the manifestations from the volcano.  Four large birds that looked like a cross between turkey and peafowl were grazing the area.  After a snack, we hiked back down toward the rainforest on the flat, grassy two-mile Las Coladas Trail. It wasn’t far and we reached the first intersection with the Ceibo Trail loop.  We hiked this trail for an hour and a half into the rainforest where it featured a 100-year-old ceibo tree.  That tree was the largest of a group of trees that happened to survive the eruptions.  Standing next to the old giant was humbling.  It was draped by large woody vines, so I grabbed hold of one and climbed it a little.  There was no way I was going to make it up to the canopy.  Sarah grabbed a vine and was swinging back and forth like Tarzan!  Monkeying around was a lot of fun but we had more to see, so we trekked on.  The dimly lit trail got brighter as the tall tree’s canopy opened up and we merged again with Las Coladas Trail.

We weren’t on Las Coladas Trail long when it made an abrupt end at what looked like a large pile of rocks.  This was the edge of the 1992 lava flow.  A sign and a staircase carved into the rocks marked the beginning of the 1992 Lava Flow trail.  The rock stairs brought us out above the trees and on top of the old lava flow where pioneer vegetation was springing out from the barren landscape of jagged black rocks.  From under the rainforest canopy, we could hear animals but saw very few.  Once we were above the canopy we saw many more.  Toucans were flying from one treetop to another.  Monkeys were in the treetops too.  We met fellow hikers here who were enjoying the scenery.  The volcano, lake, and rainforest were all visible from the top of the old flow.  We had some laughs while we climbed over the rocks, shared stories, and watched house sized boulders ejected from the crater crash down the mountainside and break apart.  We were captivated by the clouds impacting the summit.  Wind was pushing them around the peak making an eddy current on the downwind side of the mountain top.

It was after noon and we knew we had a long hike back to the cabin so we said our goodbyes and started back toward the park entrance.  Leaving the park, we picked up our pace on the bumpy gravel road following the shore of Lake Arenal.  We stopped to check out the wild impatiens covering the hillsides and streams flowing across the road.  The scenery was truly amazing as we finished the five miles back to our cabin just in time for nightfall.

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Bryson’s goal was simple: “I wanted a little of that swagger that comes with being able to gaze at afar horizon through eyes of chipped granite and say with a slow manly sniff ‘Yeah, I’ve shit in the woods.’” From a fellow hiker that wouldn’t stop talking to arming himself with toenail clippers to fight off a bear, Bryson found a way to turn every moment into something that would make you really laugh.

Bryson’s attention to detail in this book stood out. At the end of the book, he offers a list of suggested reading material which he also references throughout the book. Information about the geology, ecology, and history of the Appalachians leaves the reader not only understanding Bryson’s personal adventure, but also the factors that have shaped the trail into what it is today. At times he takes on hard issues, such as the Department of Interior’s land usage and preservation policies and at other times he shares his fear of bears by quoting selections of Bear attacks: Their Causes and Avoidance (Stephen Herreos. Harmony Books, 1992), a book I will not be reading anytime soon!

Overall I think A Walk in the Woods is a great book and may even be a great primer for through hiking the AT as it provides insight into the politics, the geologic and more recent history, and what it means to be on the trail. I give it two thumbs up and suggest it to anyone who wants a good laugh and an introduction to the Appalachian Trail.

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1. Book Review: AWOL on the Appalachian Trail
2. Outdoor Book Review: Blind Descent
3. Outdoor Book Review: No Way Down – Life and Death on K2

Purple Passion flower blooming very early

Florida is widely known for its beaches, abundance of sunshine, and mild temperatures. Cold temperatures rarely occur on the peninsula after February and there won’t be another cold snap until late October. Spring officially began March 20, but winter was warmer than usual so spring arrived a month early. This made trees, shrubs, and plants bud early, and with them, the beginning of a great hiking season!

Beach Sunflower was likely one of the first flowers encountered by Conquistadors

Any time is a good time to hike, but this time of year is especially good. Nature is putting on a show. The first European expedition to Florida arrived on the coast late in March of 1513 and is the first historical documentation of the natural abundance here. Their journal entries echo the lavish environment they encountered on their expeditions. The conquistadors were struck by the sheer amount of flowers they came into contact with across the new foreign landscape. The wildflowers Ponce De Leon saw are said to have influenced his choice to name the newly claimed Spanish territory. After all, La Florida means place of flowers in Spanish.

Masses of Blue Toadflax fills a field with color

Florida’s history of hyper-development of natural places reveals just how much of the landscape in which wildflowers once grew has been destroyed. However, hikers and campers still get to experience them in the outdoor spaces set aside for recreation. Trails are a great way to get outdoors and visit large areas covered with colorful blooms. There are so many varieties and they are in such great quantity that you can’t miss them. The types of flowers that can be seen vary greatly as trails take you through a range of natural settings. Hikers are likely to see native Phlox, Rudbeckia (Black-eyed Susan), Sneezeweed, Yellow Milkwort, Prairie Iris, Rain Lilies, and Coreopsis, to name just a few.

Gulf Fritillary a.k.a Passion Butterfly

Where there are wildflowers, there are butterflies. Florida is a premier location for butterfly enthusiasts, hosting about 180 species, which is the highest of any state east of the Mississippi. Butterflies use wildflowers as food and nectar sources and the plants also serve as shelter and platforms for eggs.  Be sure to take your camera with you because flowers and butterflies together are beautiful and make great photo opportunities.

Fetterbush's pink flowers look like upside down wine glasses

Outdoors enthusiasts have the opportunity to experience an amazing variety of flora and fauna and spring is an excellent time of year to see some of the best nature has to offer. Put on your hiking shoes and pack your lunch because the warm weather this year has created a rare show that you won’t want to miss out on.

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3. Hiking: It’s not just for weekends anymore

Close-up of diamorpha growing on granite slab at Tribble Mill.

Congratulations to our top contributors in March: Melissa Peacock and Sarah Hikes. Asfyxiate was our top gear reviewer last month and all three folks will be receiving $25 gift certificates to Backcountry.com.

Even though spring officially arrived just a few weeks ago it feels like summer is right around the corner! You know it’s perfect camping weather when every backcountry campsite you pass in the National Forest is full. That was the scene this weekend in North Georgia and I imagine it’s happening all over the US!

Get your campground, hiking trail, and cave pics and reviews in this month for a shot at your own Backcountry.com gift card. And don’t forget, we’ll also reward the member with the most outdoor gear reviews so tell us about your must-have items for the trail and the campsite.

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Me:  Wow, Mt. Garfield looks tiny from here.

A:  Yeah.  Have you hiked it?

Me:  Nope.  I keep saying I’m going to.

A:  We should do it!

So the plan was set and the following weekend I found myself heading down I-70 with A and 2 four-legged friends for an adventure up Mt. Garfield.  The hike itself, distance-wise, isn’t far:  a mere 2-2.5 miles depending on your route.  Getting to the parking area is interesting.  It involves taking the main Palisade exit, turning right, making another right onto G 7/10 road and then going under a tunnel to get to the parking lot on the north side of the Interstate.  Do not attempt this if the road through the tunnel is filled with water!

This is the steepest trail I have ever hiked (2,000 ft in 2-2.5 miles).  Taking the Gearhart Mine trail (just east of the parking lot) will save you a bit of steep climbing on the way up but even this requires either some scrambling or the use of trekking poles.  You’ll need your best grippy hiking boots for this one!

At one of many rest stops, the conversation went something like this:

Me:  pant pant pant.

A:    pant pant pant.

The hike carried us through some unlikely terrain.  From the parking area all I could see was dirt and scrub brush.  Yet soon enough we were in a high meadow with juniper trees and wild horses.  The old mine shaft was there too – a streak of black and rotting wood against the pale bentonite clay of the hillside.  Soon we intersected the original Mt. Garfield trail and joined others in clambering over rocks and struggling to catch our breath along the narrow, exposed route.  A’s beagle led the way up the last stretch past a false summit that had me threatening to hit A with my trekking pole if we didn’t reach the end soon.

Then there it was.  The top.  The end.  The entire Grand Valley below us stretching to the horizon.  Desert hills turned to grape vines and green orchards along the river and then back to dusty hues in the south.  We took off our backpacks and sat down for a snack.  There was silence for a moment as we took it all in.

Me:  Wow, we did it!

A:  That was way tougher than I thought it would be.

Me:  Glad we brought water and snacks.

It was at that moment that a guy in his 70s walked past us in shorts and a t-shirt with no water, snacks or any sign of slowing down.  I felt the cold hard rock beneath me as my mouth fell open in awe.

Gravity was at least on our side on the hike down and I’m happy to say my Vasque Breeze hiking shoes kept me from getting a black-toenail pedicure, but just barely.  Still, once reaching the bottom and looking up to see where we’d been, we were proud.  We may not have hiked it in record time but we hiked it.  One more to cross off the list.

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In October 2010, after 25 years of living in Florida, it was time for me to experience fall like inhabitants of most other states do. After careful consideration the chosen destination was Stowe, Vermont. Upon arriving, I was overwhelmed with the breathtaking beauty of the fall foliage. It was unlike anything I had ever witnessed in my entire life living in Florida. The trees were ablaze with hues of yellows, oranges, reds, and purples. I saw new trees that I could not recognize and felt a dry, chilly air that is hard to come by in the South.

The next day my three friends and I set off to climb Mount Mansfield, the highest mountain in Vermont, peaking at 4,395 feet. It was a cold, wet, and windy day so we wanted to be prepared. We purchased disposable shower caps and put them over our socks in our shoes to prevent our feet from getting completely soaked. Not the most technical solution but innovative, nonetheless. We dressed with two layers of pants, multiple shirts, sweaters, and jackets, two pairs of socks, gloves and caps on our heads. It was about 40 degrees when we first set off on the Long Trail South, and I can still remember the excitement running through my veins.

After about twenty minutes of steep climbing we were already shedding clothing. With our bodies moving and our hearts pumping, it didn’t seem as cold anymore. The journey toward the top of the mountain was incredibly stimulating and completely contrasting to any day I have ever had hiking in the swampy, familiar, flat lands of Florida. We scrambled up and over rocks while grabbing onto trees, crossed a few streams by hopping on stones, ascended stairways made of logs and boulders, and stopped at every gorgeous overlook and picture-worthy spot along the way. With the beautiful change of scenery and weather, this was turning out to be one of my most enjoyable outdoor excursions. That is, until we got really close to the top of the mountain.

As we got higher, the atmosphere got colder and windier. When we reached a point on the trail called “The Adam’s Apple,” I felt colder than I ever had before. That is, until we reached “The Chin,” which is the top of the mountain and the highest peak in Vermont. We had crossed over into an arctic-alpine zone and there was ice everywhere on the wind-blown spruce and balsam fir trees. At this point the wind was blowing so hard it must have felt about 20 degrees. Our toes, fingers and noses were frozen and we were exhausted from the four hour vertical climb.

It was at this point that something occurred to me that I had not thought of before, “What goes up must come down.” How were we going to get down? According to my small, not very detailed, map we had three different options for our descent. We could go back down the way we came, we could hike down an extremely difficult Cliff Trail and then take a gondola ride to the bottom, or we could continue on down the other side of the mountain and then walk down a toll road to the bottom. None of us could bear to do any more climbing and since it would be dark in about 2 and a half hours we decided to head down toward the toll road.

With our bodies exhausted but starting to thaw, we walked down that toll road, partially in the dark, all the way back to our vehicle. There were moments when I was standing at the top of that mountain with the icy wind blowing so hard that I didn’t think I could walk another step make it back down. Looking back on it now I feel a sense of accomplishment. I pushed my body to its limits and succeeded in reaching my two goals of experiencing a genuine fall season and climbing up, and back down, Mount Mansfield. These are things that I don’t get to do in my home state and I am glad to have experienced my first fall on such a grand scale.

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In south Florida the only animal I have really had to worry about stealing my food is the occasional raccoon, but with my spring break and summer plans in bear country I figured I couldn’t go wrong investing in a bear bag system. Enter the Pack Piñata by Pacific Outdoor Equipment. This high quality waterproof bear bag with integrated throw rope was just up my alley, especially the designs that they come in (fish, frog, pig and plain black). Personally, I could care less what a bear bag looks like, but since Valentine’s day was around the corner and my girlfriend has a more artistic eye for outdoor gear, I figured I couldn’t go wrong with the goldfish design!

I enjoy the compression valve feature which allows you to remove excess air without the use of compression straps. You can also use the valve to add air for days out on the water. The 50’ long rope is stashed and attached to a rope bag that doubles as storage and throw bag. Just open the drawstring a little and throw it over a limb; if you make it in one throw you’re set to go. Otherwise, just toss a few rocks or small sticks in the bag and you’re ready for another try. On the other end of the rope there is a screw lock mini carabiner that attaches to a metal grommet in the middle of the bag. Once attached, pull it up to tease all the hungry bears with a yummy fish piñata in the tree!

As for the more technical side, I was concerned with the bag’s ability to keep water out. From spending days out on the water to the terrible thunderstorms or even a misstep on a river crossing, I want my food to stay dry. To test this I filled the bag with newspaper, rolled the top three times and snapped it closed. After a half hour submerged I was excited to see that not a drop of water had entered the bag.

When it comes to the end of the day I would say this bag is well worth the cost ($34.95 at Backcountry.com). It’s 25L (1525 cu. in), 325g (11.6 oz) and is large enough and light enough for a week’s worth of food for two. The integrated rope/throw bag system that attaches to the bear bag is a great feature and its ability to keep the elements out give it full marks – though the only thing that really matters is what the girlfriend thinks. This says it all “Some girls got chocolates, jewelry and flowers for Valentine’s Day; I got a fish shaped bear bag. Best present ever!”

Mission accomplished.

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My neighbors, Mike and Kayla, asked if they could hike with me this weekend. Mike suggested we go to a nearby park he heard of called Brooker Creek Headwaters Preserve. I quickly agreed, knowing there were trails on the south end that I’d been wanting to hike. I loaded the area map on my Magellan Triton 1500 GPS later that night because a good hand-held GPS makes it easy to find points of interest and makes it difficult to get lost.

We woke up early Saturday, packed our lunches and gear, and drove to the trailhead. In the car, Kayla confessed she had never been hiking before and she was both excited and anxious by the time we got there. It had rained in the past two days but the trail looked good, so after gathering our packs, we started hiking. It was only a few minutes into the trail before we came to a sudden halt: there were turkeys crossing the trail in front of us. They stopped too and looked at us for a moment, then hurried past some brush and out of sight. Seeing wild animals right away felt good and we wanted to see more.

Florida can be warm in the winter but this February day it was 60 degrees and the air was dry. Half an hour into the trail we were all sipping from our water packs. The trail had taken us into some planted pines where there was a spot that looked inviting. We stretched our legs while we talked about the turkeys. When our chatter subsided, all we could hear was the wind in the pines and some cardinals chirping. It was at that moment we disengaged from the noise of modern life and re-engaged with the peacefulness of the outdoors. We continued to hike, but this time, we were listening more than talking.

Some of the trees next to the trail had been rooted around by wild pigs. I could see Laccaria mushrooms growing there and wondered if that was what the pigs had been eating. It wasn’t a minute or two after seeing signs of wild pig that we got a glimpse of one ahead of us on the trail. It was all black, the size of a dog, and couldn’t have been more than a hundred pounds. Continuing on, the trail meandered out of the pines and through an oak hammock. Mike spotted two kinds of woodpeckers hammering their heads on decaying limbs. One sounded like Woody Woodpecker laughing its way from tree to tree. Its laugh must have been contagious because it gave us a good laugh too.

The trail led us to the edge of a cypress swamp where it followed the bay head. The ground was moist and the swamp had water standing in some places. I was excited to find carnivorous plants growing on wet soil near the grass. One was Sarracenia minor, a hooded pitcher plant, which is one of only six known pitcher plants growing naturally in Florida. The tube-like leaves are reddish green, stand up straight, and are covered by a recurved hood. Mike and Kayla had never seen one and this was my first time seeing them in the wild.

With only a mile or so left on the loop trail, my neighbors were already planning their next hike. I certainly had a good time and was happy to have good friends to share my Saturday with!

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8 minutes later I’m standing here.

The "Clunker" trailhead off of Little Park road in Grand Junction, CO.

It may not look like much, but the view is nice and today it’s completely deserted.  I head down the trail to the right at a fast pace.  I only have an hour and I’ve got to make it count!  The best thing about this trail and the Tabeguache trail system is that it’s well-maintained and multi-use.  I can bike here, trail run here, hike here and, if I wanted to, ride a horse here.  I can connect this trail to miles and miles of other trails for hikes that are an hour or three hours long.  It’s quiet out here.  Spring is just beginning so even though the winter was mild, everything is still sleeping.  The Claret cacti probably won’t bloom for another month and the collard lizards aren’t out either.  It’s just miles of this:

Views from the Clunker trail, part of the Tabeguache trail system in Grand Junction, CO

Today, that’s what I need.  It’s warm out and I’m glad I at least remembered to bring water with me.  The trail loop I’m doing today is only about 3 miles long so I left the water in the car, but I’m thinking that I should bring my smallest backpack so I can keep the phone, camera, and water all handy.  You never know.

The trails I’m taking today are named:  Clunker, Holy Cross, and Holey Bucket.  Holy Cross is a whole long trail in itself, but it also connects Holey Bucket to Clunker.  You can see where these trail names come from:

The "clunker" in the valley between the Clunker trail and Holey Bucket.

One of the "holey buckets" on the Holey Bucket trail

By the time I reach the end of the loop my head has cleared.  There’s no headache anymore, no blurred “computer-monitor” vision, and no frustration.  I’ve gotten a good dose of fresh air and sunshine and will happily eat lunch at my desk now.  Are there trails close to your work?  Is there a bike path?  A river walk?  Find a way to get out there during the day and revive yourself.  Your afternoon will be so much more productive for it!

Views from the Holey Bucket trail, part of the Tabeguache trail system in Grand Junction, CO

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Just in time for spring, we’re pleased to announce the 2012 Tripleblaze blog team! These guys and gals will sharing their outdoor adventures and gear reviews throughout the year so stay tuned for great articles to come!

Kyle Dennison (LightFoot)

Kyle grew up on a ranch tending cattle and riding horses, later working as a river guide and naturalist in Florida where he lives today. He’s backpacked across Europe and Costa Rica and has hiked in most states east of the Mississippi. Kyle is into everything outdoors from forestry to canoeing and bird watching so we’re excited to have his perspective on the team!

Julie Norman (mtbikerchick)

Julie lives in western Colorado where she can be found skiing, hiking, camping, backpacking, and yes, even mountain biking pretty much year round. For Julie, getting outdoors isn’t just great fun – it’s also her way of leading an active and healthy lifestyle. Look for amazing trip reports and photos from Julie soon!

Sarah Greenburg (Sarah Hikes)

Sarah has been passionate about the outdoors since she was a child. These days she’s a member of the Florida Trailwalker Program and is about halfway to hiking all 25 of the program trails listed by the Florida Forest Service. Sarah has camped and hiked all over the southeast and her excitement for the outdoors is downright contagious!

John Henkelman (FLtrekker)

John also lives in Florida and is an Eagle Scout who’s trekked everywhere from Big Sky Country to the Pacific Northwest and the Appalachians. In 2013 John and his girlfriend plan to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. We can’t wait to hear about John’s planning and preparation for this epic trip!

Please welcome everyone to the team and let us know what types of article you’d like to read this year!

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The book starts off chronicling several Mexican super cave expeditions undertaken by American Bill Stone, giving a good background on the risks of super cave exploration. The author makes the point on many occasions that exploring a “super cave” is like climbing Mount Everest – in reverse (and in the dark). Cavers find themselves facing the most difficult portion of the adventure AFTER reaching the bottom of the cave unlike mountaineers who can descend a mountain on their way back to safety.

During Stone’s super cave explorations, the team often encountered underground pools known as sumps. With no way to walk around these pools, cavers are forced to dive in to seek passage to lower portions of the cave. Reading the descriptions of these underground dives gave me a sense of claustrophobia every time and it’s incredible to consider how difficult it must be to carry SCUBA equipment so far underground where the chances of rescue are slim.

While Bill Stone’s team was busy exploring deep caves in Mexico, Alexander Klimchouk and his team explored Krubera, a super cave located in the Republic of Georgia. Krubera is very different from the Mexican caves in that it’s mostly vertical with little water and freezing temperatures (as if complete darkness wasn’t enough).

The whole idea of discovering “the deepest place on earth” makes for a good subtitle to the story but the reality is a bit more complicated. I was surprised and a little disappointed to read that both teams had to remove rock at some points to make passages large enough to navigate (isn’t that just mining?). And the “deepest place on earth” label isn’t really accurate; cave depths are measured from the entry rather than a fixed point like sea level for example.

Blind Descent does a good job explaining caving and diving techniques but I would have liked to have learned more about how the caverns are actually surveyed. This is sort of an important point since the depths the cavers ultimately reach determines where “the deepest place on earth” actually ends up.

Overall I highly recommend Blind Descent for anyone interested in adventure stories or caving in particular. This book will keep you on the edge of your chair as you follow these explorers racing to the deepest place on earth.

Ready to explore your own cave? Check out the new cave section here on Tripleblaze.com.

Related posts:

1. Outdoor Book Review: No Way Down – Life and Death on K2
2. Book Review: AWOL on the Appalachian Trail
3. Submit Outdoor News or Products for Review

Arabia Mountain, Georgia.

Congratulations to our top outdoor photo and review contributors in February: Melissa Peacock and LightFoot. Our top gear reviewer was Sarah Hikes and all three members will receive $25 gift cards to Backcountry.com. As a reminder, the February contest included an extra day, January 31, since we announced the January members a day early last month.

This week we’re reviewing blog team applications and working on a few design tweaks on the website. We’re also adding more caves and parks for you to explore and review while enjoying the early spring weather. Happy trails!

Related posts:

1. February Contest Winners and News
2. February Contest Winners
3. Tripleblaze Contest Winners

Photo of the Day

Each day we’ll be highlighting one of the 20,000 member-submitted camping and hiking photos on Tripleblaze – just click the new photos tab in the header to take a peek. We also added a gallery showing all the photos submitted to Tripleblaze.com (ordered newest to oldest) and even a gallery of past photos of the day (in case you miss a day!).

You don’t need to do anything special to submit a photo for consideration – just upload your campground and hiking trail photos to the appropriate listing page. If you have something special that doesn’t fit a listing, just email it to info@tripleblaze.com or post it to our Facebook page.

Enhanced Maps

Now you can share hiking trail and point-of-interest information on Tripleblaze.com! Just find the appropriate hiking trail listing and use the tools to draw a map OR upload data from your GPS. For trails with enhanced map data you can toggle layers on and off and even download the information to your GPS or Google Earth.

We’ve started uploading enhanced maps for select trails like the Appalachian trail so keep checking back for the latest!

Improved Facebook Integration

Tired of forgetting your login and password for Tripleblaze? Try using Facebook Connect instead! Just click the purple button at the top of the site (or here) and you can create a new account or link your existing Tripleblaze account. Then, whenever you return, just click the purple button and you’re logged in!

Once connected you’ll also be able to share your Tripleblaze reviews and photos on Facebook and we’ll even import your Facebook profile pic to your Tripeblaze account. It’s so simple, why didn’t we do this sooner?

Other Stuff

With this upgrade we’re also rolling out trail groups to divide longer trails like the Pacific Crest trail into more manageable segments. You’ll also notice improved wishlist functionality and (coming soon) profile badges based on your member points. Finally, we’ve added some stats to your “My Account” page to make it easier to start contributing.

We’re really excited about the latest additions and can’t wait for the summer!

Related posts:

1. Tripleblaze Updates: Hiking Trail Maps, Facebook & Twitter
2. Hiking trail maps posted
3. September Outdoor Photo and Review Contest Winners

We got a chance to see thousands of camping and hiking products at the Outdoor Retailer tradeshow in Salt Lake City, UT last month and one thing was clear: there is some serious technology behind the latest and greatest outdoor gear. Some of the booths felt like science labs with experiments and demonstrations showing warmer, drier, and more digitally connected products than ever before. Here are some of our favorites.

Camelbak showed a water bottle with a built-in UV purifier. The company, perhaps best known for its hydration packs and collapsible bladders, is betting adventurers will appreciate the ability to make water safe to drink no matter its source. Just don’t forget to use the pre-filter to get the big chunks out – UV won’t do anything about particulates in your drink.

Fleece liners have been popular for a while now because they’re warm, versatile, and comfortable. The only problem is, fleece quickly overheats when you’re being active outdoors (like say, hiking). The North Face found an innovative solution to the problem: a subway-style pattern of fleece tiles with vented fabric in between the tiles. The result is a more breathable fleece and a distinctive quilt-like pattern on the outside of the jacket.

Columbia Sportswear uses a similar concept in their Omni-Heat Reflective line of outerwear. Tiny reflective circles line the inside of jackets like the one pictured above to keep more of the body’s radiant heat inside. It’s the same idea behind the foil blankets survivalists and marathon runners use but in a more comfortable, breathable, and less crinkly configuration.

These days it’s possible to pack powerful technology for camping and hiking in the form of GPS units like those in the eXplorist line from Magellan. The eXplorist 110 pictured above is a great basic unit with a color screen and fairly detailed basemaps, all for less than $150 (one of the cheapest color screen units we’ve seen). The top-of-the-line eXplorist models pack detailed topo maps, a digital camera, and even a touch screen for the ultimate navigation and data collection device on the trail.

Hey, just because you’re camping doesn’t mean you have to be uncivilized, right? GSI Outdoors had this full line of wine glasses for camping (including the collapsible and stainless steel models pictured) plus a hand-crank blender for making trail-side margaritas. Still, the company isn’t just catering to the car campers – hardcore backpackers will appreciate the Halulite Minimalist cooking + eating kit pictured below.

Kelty introduced the new Agile series of backpacks and they’re the company’s most technical packs to date. With lightweight support systems and intelligent compartment designs, these packs are ready for anything from day tripping to overnight adventures. With several sizes to choose from in both mens and womens designs, there is now a Kelty backpack for just about everyone.

Trail running has been a hot market over the last few years and now we’re seeing that enthusiasm spill over into new areas like speed hiking and ultralight mountaineering.  These boots (shoes?) from New Balance caught our eye not just for their form but also the bold colors!

As you can tell there was a lot to see at Outdoor Retailer this year and manufacturers continue to push the latest technology into camping and hiking gear. The upshot: enhanced comfort on the trail and at the campsite means we can play outside longer and harder than ever before!

Related posts:

1. Sierra Designs DriDown at Outdoor Retailer
2. Bamboo Water Bottle @ Outdoor Retailer 2010
3. High tech camping options in South Dakota

DriDown

First, a little primer on down insulation. If you’ve ever shopped for a sleeping bag you know there are basically two choices: down or synthetic insulation. Down has the advantage of being lighter weight and more compressible than synthetic materials but the trade-off is it loses most of its insulating value when it becomes wet. Which is ironic given the fact that geese spend so much time in the water.

Anyway, Sierra Designs developed a process to apply a micro-thin polymer layer to natural down, resulting in a product that stays dry 7-times longer and dries much faster than untreated down. The amazing thing is the down keeps all its insulating value and essentially weighs the same. The upshot: down jackets don’t get bogged down with body vapor and stay warm longer. And down sleeping bags are no longer confined to desert camping – a little rain won’t cause these bags to turn into clammy meat lockers.

Visually, it’s easy to see the effectiveness of DriDown in the photo above. The down sample on the left is untreated while the sample on the right is DriDown. Both similarly-sized samples were “dunked” in the water at the same time but the DriDown regained most of its loft almost immediately.

Sierra Designs is rolling DriDown into many products for 2012 and the best part is, in most cases it doesn’t add to the cost of the product. This might just be the first challenge to the outdoor industry law of lighter/cheaper/more durable (pick two)!

Sleeping Bags

The Cloud inside an ultralight Mojo tent.

Beyond DriDown, Sierra Designs also showed off more innovative sleeping bag designs at this year’s Outdoor Retailer. The Cloud is the lightest 15-degree sleeping bag on the market at just 1lb, 12 oz. and I have to say it feels absolutely airy to the touch. Unlike most sleeping bags, the Cloud features vertical baffles and a translucent nylon shell that allows you to actually see the down fill inside. The MSRP on the Cloud is $499 but can you really put a price on such a heavenly night’s rest in the great outdoors?

Sierra Designs also offers innovative convertible sleeping bags like the one pictured above with a removable down torso panel that turns a 30-degree bag into a 15-degree bag and back again with ease. This makes it possible to use the same bag at base camp AND the summit for multi-day treks but it’s also perfect for those who don’t want to buy separate summer and winter bags.

It was great to see all the new tech and products from Sierra Designs at Outdoor Retailer this year – can’t wait to see what these guys come up with next! (It’ll be hard to top DriDown for sure.)

Related posts:

1. Bamboo Water Bottle @ Outdoor Retailer 2010
2. Sylvan Sports Has Hidden $14,000 in Outdoor Gear
3. Outdoor television shows

Do you have a passion for the great outdoors and the ability to communicate your love for camping and hiking? If so, we need you for the Tripleblaze blog team! Bloggers will write product reviews, post trip reports, and comment on outdoor industry trends.

We’re accepting applications through the end of the month – if you’re interested, please email info@tripleblaze.com for details on how to submit.

Related posts:

1. Tripleblaze News & Updates
2. Tripleblaze is Looking for Camping & Hiking Gear Reviewers
3. Tripleblaze App: iPhone and Android

Ogden, UT

Congratulations to this month’s $25 Backcountry.com gift card winners: Melissa Peacock, flbikerrunner, and pakrat13. Yeah, it’s a little unfair that two out of three of these folks live in Florida but no excuses – get out for a hike in the snow if you have to this winter!

Stay tuned for news from Outdoor Retailer in Salt Lake City last month – we had a blast previewing the latest camping gear and apparel!

Related posts:

1. August Outdoor Review and Photo Contest Winners
2. December Outdoor Photo & Review Contest Winners
3. November Photo and Review Contest Winners

Bear Creek Overlook

Congratulations to our December outdoor photo and review contest winners, Melissa Peacock and Sarah Hikes. These top contributors will each receive a $25 gift card to Backcountry.com. Is it just us, or has the winter weather been great so far? Apparently a lot of people are getting out this year, camping and hiking in spite of the calendar.

Tell us about your outdoor goals this year and resolve to add more outdoor photos and reviews to Tripleblaze in 2012!

Related posts:

1. August Outdoor Review & Photo Contest Winners
2. September Outdoor Photo and Review Contest Winners
3. August Outdoor Review and Photo Contest Winners

Cheaha State Park near Talladega, AL.

Congratulations to our November camping and hiking photo and review winners, Melissa Peacock, LightFoot, and Sarah Hikes. Melissa Peacock destroyed the competition with over 400 points which just might be a new record high score! Sarah Hikes takes home the “gear review” prize for reviewing her Coleman camp chair. Just think, if anyone else had added two equipment reviews they could be taking home a $25 Backcountry.com gift card instead!

Just a reminder that contributions to Tripleblaze.com must be original and cannot be copied from another website. This goes for trail/campground descriptions, reviews, and photos. It’s ok to link to others’ videos on YouTube but all the other stuff needs to be your own work. Otherwise, members may be disqualified from our monthly contest if contributions are found to be plagiarized.

Get outdoors this holiday season and enjoy the scenery!

Related posts:

1. November Camping & Hiking Review Contest Winners
2. August Outdoor Review & Photo Contest Winners
3. August Outdoor Review and Photo Contest Winners

Camping and hiking at Lake Powhatan near Asheville, NC.

Congratulations to this month’s contest winners, flbikerunner, Sarah Hikes, and LightFoot. Photos and reviews were coming fast and furious right up until the end of the month and we’re excited to see so much information being added to the database!

Remember, the top two point-earners at the end of each month take home $25 gift cards and there’s also a $25 gift card for the top outdoor gear reviewer who isn’t in the top two overall. The contest ends at midnight Pacific on the last day of the contest – you’ll know which month your contributions fall in based on the date displayed next to your contribution in your profile. Starting next month we’ll be switching the prizes to gift cards from Backcountry.com where you can shop online for camping and hiking gear plus stuff for skiing and biking too.

The fall colors are still amazing here in the southeast – plenty of time left to get outside to camp and hike before the winter sets in!

Related posts:

1. October Camping & Hiking Review Contest Winners
2. October Contest Winners
3. September Camping and Hiking Contest Winners

Big news! Tripleblaze just released free apps for iPhone and Android late last week, giving you access to thousands of campgrounds and hiking trails on your phone. With the Tripleblaze app you can:

• Get a list of the closest hiking trails and campgrounds to your current location, wherever you are.
• View campground and hiking trail photos, reviews, and even maps.
• Update your wishlist and my trails / my campground lists right on your phone.
• Review campgrounds, hiking trails, and even outdoor equipment.
• Capture and upload hiking trail and campground photos right from your phone.

Of course you’ll need an active data connection to use all these great features so be sure to look up the info you need before getting too far into the backcountry. You can use your existing Tripleblaze.com account login within the app or sign up for an free account from your phone. Simple.

We’re really excited about the app and all the possibilities for sharing info about great outdoor spots. Download the app today for iPhone or Android!

Related posts:

1. Tripleblaze News & Updates
2. Camping & Hiking Apps for iPhone
3. Camping & Hiking Blog on iPhone

Congratulations to our top outdoor photo and review contributors last month, LaFolie and SarahHikes. LaFolie was the top point earner for the month despite joining on the last day of September – clearly it ain’t over until it’s over! And LightFoot scored himself a $25 REI gift card for being our top gear reviewer for the month with just two product reviews.

As always the contest is rolling over this month and we’re excited to hear about your favorite fall camping and hiking spots in October. See you on the trail or back at the campsite!

Related posts:

1. September Outdoor Photo and Review Contest Winners
2. September Winners & Campground Map
3. May Camping & Hiking Contest Winners

While eating breakfast the next morning, I met another American, Andy, who was also traveling solo. After talking for a bit, I found out that he was looking for a good day hike much like myself, so we agreed to meet up a little later to carpool out to the Gap of Dunloe, where we would go hiking. I made a quick run to the local bike shop to pick up a better tire for my back wheel, then met Andy back at the B&B. We loaded up in his rental car and set off for the Gap of Dunloe.

The Gap of Dunloe

The Gap of Dunloe is a very well known route and a popular tourist destination. In addition to hiking the route, you can also see it via horse-drawn carriage or by bicycle. We originally planned to hike this route, but after seeing that it would be entirely on a small paved road and filled with other tourists, Andy and I decided to look for something a bit more rugged, and not long after starting we noticed a trail heading out of the valley towards the summit of one of the surrounding mountains. We passed by the sign warning us of the extreme conditions on top of the mountain and began our climb.

Climbing out of the valley.

The trail started out wide and rocky, with a steady climb up the mountain side. After the first couple of switchbacks, the dirt beneath the rocks began to turn into mud, with some large puddles of water scattered along the trail. It became clear that this trail is also the path that runoff water takes from the higher slopes down to the valley. Despite having beautiful sunny skies for our hike, the large amount of rain from the previous day meant the trail was wet and kept us rock hopping through puddles for the entire way up.

After making our way up the climb, we came to a plateau situated between two peaks. The peak to the east was closer and we thought we could see a trail heading up, so we started heading in that direction. There was no real trail here, but since it was open grassland it was easy to make our own path. Surprisingly, the conditions were even wetter higher up than the trail that we took up to this point. Some areas were almost marshland, with soft soil and shallow standing water. My mesh running shoes really made me wish that I had my waterproof hiking boots with me, but when you are on a cycling tour it is impossible to bring everything.

The plateau we crossed, as viewed from the summit. Our initial climb is down the mountain on the left side of this photo.

After a short trek, we found ourselves at the trail that we saw heading to the summit, which was another wide rocky drainage route. We only had a short distance left to climb, and before we knew it we were at the summit where there were two large rock piles and a panoramic view. From this point, you could see many of Ireland’s best features such as the Ring of Kerry, the Dingle Peninsula, Killarney National Park, and back into the valley where we began our hike towards the Gap of Dunloe. We stopped at the summit to soak in the scenery and eat a little lunch, before moving on with our hike.

The view from the top, looking toward the Dingle Peninsula.

Since Andy had to be back in Dublin that night, we decided to head back to the car and not try to reach another peak. We followed the same route down and made quick work of the descent. Once back at the car, we took off back to Killarney where Andy dropped me off at the B&B before heading out of town. Even though we only did a few hours of hiking, the Killarney area has endless options for hikers. It would have been easy to spend the entire day wandering around the hills, but since it was my rest day I decided to take it easy for the rest of the afternoon and prepare to continue my cycle tour the next day, when I would return to ride the Gap of Dunloe before continuing on to the Ring of Kerry.

Descending back into the valley.

Want to read more about my trip?  Read on at mtnbikeurope.blogspot.com.

Related posts:

1. Texas Backpackers Receive Rude Welcome in Ireland
2. American Hiking Society Supports 10 Favorite Hiking Trails
3. Hiking loops

We wound up with a soggy Labor Day weekend here but hopefully folks in other parts of the country were able to get out to camp and hike over the holiday! Congratulations to our contest winners last month: teamfrek16 and SCgregg1 (top contributors) and Fran (top outdoor gear review contributor).

This month we’re hard at work on iPhone and Android apps for Tripleblaze so stay tuned for the latest news!

Related posts:

1. August Outdoor Review & Photo Contest Winners
2. September Outdoor Photo and Review Contest Winners
3. June Campground & Hiking Trail Review and Photo Contest

Don’t you just love the summer? Even though it may feel like the season is nearly over, there’s still officially another month on the calendar which means I plan to stay in flip flops for at least another 30 days. Good thing I found the Magic Carpet sandals from FreeWaters this year – this is a flip flop I can (and do) wear all day no matter what I get into.

FreeWaters calls the Magic Carpet a sandal (not a flip flop or thong) and based on the solid construction I’d say that’s an appropriate classification. The company boasts that the included “Response Arch Flex Shank creates a running shoe spring action” and as a runner that claim certainly got my attention. Out of the box the Magic Carpets are more stiff and heavier than your might expect but the thick, shock absorbing sole is easily the best feature.

I usually go through at least a couple pairs of flimsy, cheap flip flops every summer and my biggest problem is the foam padding leaves my shins aching after walking for more than a few minutes. The Magic Carpets don’t leave me with that aching feeling despite wearing them all day (ain’t working from home great?) or even walking from my house to the local watering hole. The soles also protect me from the foot jabbing I typically get walking in our pine cone infested backyard.

Outside the house I’ve been really impressed with how the Magic Carpet sandals handle the water. The rubber tread is pretty grip-tastic on wet rocks and slick roots. I wish I had taken a video during our trip to Dick’s Creek in North Georgia last weekend so you could see Leah slipping and sliding in her cheap flip flops while I walked beside her with perfect poise. Classic.

The other side of the slippery sole equation that many companies forget about is the foot bed itself. There’s nothing worse than having your foot slip while the sandal stays planted, jamming the web of your toes into the strap. Ouch! Even after getting my Magic Carpets completely soaked I was still able to slow jog back to the car to grab the sunscreen. The foot bed is covered with a soft, almost furry fabric that’s both cool and comfortable while still offering descent grip when it’s wet. I did notice a mildly annoying squishing noise when I walked in wet sandals, particularly in the right foot, but the problem only lasted as long as the moisture remained.

FreeWaters makes a big deal about the “patent pending” neoprene flex panel on the strap but to me, the strap basically does its job and stays out of the way. Yes, it’s comfortable but what I like the most is that it keeps its shape after you step out of the sandal. There’s nothing worse to me than floppy flip flop straps that I have to lift up with my toe every time I want to slip them on. The Magic Carpet strap is always ready for action!

I’m a big fan of the neutral styling of the black and gray Magic Carpets but you can also choose a blue/gray or brown/green version. The black/gray combo doesn’t seem to show much dirt or oil after many weeks of use. And unlike the flip flops you buy at the discount store, these are offered in individual shoe sizes from 8 to 13.

FreeWaters has a full line of flip flops sandals that retail for between $26 and $100 so you’re bound to find something that fits your budget, style, and performance needs. Take a Magic Carpet ride this summer and keep flying through the fall!

Thanks to the folks at FreeWaters for providing the sandals for review.

Related posts:

1. Teva Elixer 5 Review
2. Hi-Tec V-Lite Snowflake Chukka 200i Review
3. TopoFusion Mapping Software Review

Congratulations to this month’s top contributors, papasmurf454 and flbikerunner, each winners of $25 REI gift cards. We’re also awarding a third $25 REI gift card to Fran for being our top outdoor gear reviewer in July (2 reviews!).

We’re still giving away Tripleblaze frisbees to members who are the first to review a campground or hiking trail listed on the website. So far we’ve mailed out dozens of discs to members from 24 different states!

Tripleblaze recently added campground and hiking trail categories for Canadian states so if you’ve been camping or hiking in Canada, we’d love to hear about it! Also look for a mobile version of Tripleblaze.com coming this fall to help you get on the trail or find a great campground on the go.

Related posts:

1. July Contest Winners. Prizes Continue to Roll in August!
2. July REI Gift Card Winners
3. June Contest Winners

Congratulations to this month’s REI gift card winners, flbikerunner and papasmurf454! For those who are new here, each month we give out $25 REI gift cards to our top two contributors based on a simple point system (1 point per photo, 2 points per review, and 3 points for new campgrounds/hiking trails). We also reserve a third REI gift card for the top gear reviewer outside of the top two contributors but sadly, no one (other than papasmurf454) added a gear review this month. Just think – if you had just written a single gear review you could have won!

Even if you haven’t been camping or hiking long enough to write multiple reviews, be sure to tell us about the places you have visited to score a free Tripleblaze frisbee. We’ve already given away dozens of discs and we want to get the flyers into more peoples’ hands!

We hope everyone had a great Fourth of July and found a place to camp this year. Start planning your next summer camping trip now – it’ll be Labor Day before you know it!

Related posts:

1. August Outdoor Review & Photo Contest Winners
2. September Outdoor Photo and Review Contest Winners
3. June Camping & Hiking Contest Winners

Mt. St. Helens

On Sunday the skies were mostly clear so we hopped across the Oregon border into Washington and the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Our goal: to get as close as possible to Mt. St. Helens. Since it was fairly early in the season, many of the higher elevation roads were closed due to snow but we did manage to get some great views of the snow-covered peak along the way.

We stopped off at Ape Cave and hiked in to see the entrance to the cavern (we didn’t have a flashlight with us so we didn’t even make it to the first set of steel steps). From the lower entrance of the cave we hiked above ground toward the upper entrance and stopped to play on the exposed lava flows.

Back at the parking lot the small ranger office was open and we saw that we could rent a gas lantern for just $5 so it was back to the cave! Since we were carrying a two year old we opted for the easier lower cave route and made it almost all the way to the dead end about half a mile in. It was surprisingly cold and wet inside the cave – about 42 degrees. Most of the caves I’ve been in east of the Mississippi are much warmer (closer to 60 degrees year round).

Multnomah Falls

We stopped off at the Multnomah Falls on our way back to Portland from Mt. St. Helens and were shocked to see so many tourists out (we only saw a few folks at Ape Cave and on the road in GP National Forest). The falls were beautiful but honestly we could have skipped this one without missing much.

Cape Meares

On Tuesday we drove to Tillamook for the tour of the famous cheese factory then drove about 15 minutes west to Cape Meares State Park. Despite the overcast skies the ocean and beach we found were amazing and once again we had the place practically to ourselves.

From the beach we drove up to see the lighthouse which was interesting but the views from the rocky cliffs were the real attraction. We also took a short hike to see the Octopus Tree, a conifer that’s very old and that no one knows for sure how it grew the way it did.

Mt. Hood

On Wednesday we drove out to Mount Hood where I went for a short (and wet!) mountain bike ride on the Sandy Ridge trails. Afterward we had a picnic lunch at Wildwood Recreation Site. Wildwood has tons of covered picnic tables and easy walking paths along the Salmon River. There’s even a “streamwatch” – a glass panel beside the stream that lets you see what’s going on below the surface of the water. Unfortunately we didn’t get to see any fish but apparently this is a great spot for watching salmon in season!

From Wildwood we drove up to Timberline Lodge and as we approached the historic property it started snowing! At the parking lot it was a full on snow shower and we were amazed to be surrounded by snow covered slopes. The wind was blowing and we definitely weren’t dressed for the conditions (I was still in wet shorts from biking) so we snapped a few pics and headed back down the mountain.

Tillamook State Forest & Forest Park

On Thursday morning I got out on the bike again and rode in the Browns Camp area in Tillamook State Forest. The weather was great and the trails were mostly peaceful (aside from the sound of dirt bikes and ATVs buzzing around on the ORV trails). After a while the dense forest started to feel like the ones I’m familiar with here in Georgia – just with more moss and ferns.

In the afternoon we took a hike in Portland’s Forest Park which is the largest forested city park in the US. Looking at the map we just barely scratched the surface of this place and around every corner we were slack-jawed at the trees and plants around us.

The area around Portland, OR is full of outdoor recreation opportunities and a full week wasn’t nearly enough time to explore everything. We’ll definitely be back to this part of the country again!

Have you been hiking or camping in Oregon or Washington? Tell us about your favorite spot!

Related posts:

1. The Pacific Northwest Trail
2. Outdoors in New Mexico
3. Be safe outdoors this Memorial Day weekend

Lake Santeetlah, NC. May 2011.

Congratulations to our top camping & hiking contributors in May, papasmurf454 and SCgregg1. Last month more than 50 members contributed at least one review, photo, or video which is great – clearly the weather is perfect for getting outdoors!

We also sent out a bunch of Tripleblaze frisbees in May and we’re excited to give away even more in June. All you have to do is be the first to review a campground or hiking trail using your Tripleblaze account. We’ll contact you via email within a couple days to get your shipping info and badda-bing – you’ll have a brand new flyer to toss around during your next campout!

Related posts:

1. June Camping & Hiking Contest Winners
2. October Camping & Hiking Review Contest Winners
3. November Camping & Hiking Review Contest Winners

A UK company recently launched a website that connects campers with homeowners offering a place to pitch a tent called Camp in My Garden. While the website appears to be mostly centered around camping for events (think music festivals and the 2012 Olympics), the site also allows you to search potential campsites by location.

It’s free for land owners to list their camping spot and members who’d like to pitch a tent need to “apply” before confirming the arrangement. Whether the property owners can charge a camping fee is unclear – we suppose that depends on local ordinances. For now it seems that the arrangements are purely based on generosity.

While a quick search for big US cities like Denver and New York yielded no results we’re sure this concept has plenty of room to grow here in the states. Got a big yard suitable for camping? Would you allow strangers to camp there? Would you be interested in camping in someone’s yard for your next trip?

Related posts:

1. Rent out your backyard for camping
2. Suburban Camping Company Will Outfit Your Yard for a Camp Out
3. Camping as inexpensive family vacation

We recently read about a company called Suburban Camping that offers to take all the hassle out of setting up a backyard for family camping “scenarios.” The idea is that some folks don’t have the time, equipment, or the know-how to give their families a real camping experience on their own. Suburban Camping promises to have an “expert outfitter” set up a backyard campsite for customers which is probably overkill but we can see how that might be reassuring to clueless homeowners.

Aside from providing the usual camping stuff (tent, sleeping bags, lanterns), Suburban Camping can also set you up with a “S’mores bar” and even an outdoor movie. The movie thing sounds a little odd at first until you consider the fact that the whole experience is sorta like being on a movie set anyway.

Suburban Camping’s mission statement seems to be in line with what many would consider the spirit of camping:

… By nurturing genuine connections thru the camping experience, we have the ability to enrich lives by bringing back simple but often forgotten pleasures. …

Perhaps for some who have never had a camping experience, Suburban Camping can offer a safe, accessible opportunity to get started.

What do you think? Clearly this service isn’t meant for experienced campers but is it a good concept?

via Springwise.com.

Related posts:

1. Suburban hiking trails near Fullerton, CA
2. Urban camping for deals
3. Camping is lost tradition?

Last week I met up with my friend Paul and his brothers, Dan and Greg for a couple nights of camping and hiking in the Smoky Mountains just outside Robbinsville, NC. Since I was the one with the maps I suggested a couple spots that looked interesting and we settled on Joyce Kilmer Slickrock Wilderness.

Initially our plan was to backpack and spend one or both nights on the trail but late arrivals Monday meant we’d set up a base camp at Horse Cove campground at the edge of the wilderness area and head out the next day. As we approached the campground on the twisty road along the shores of Lake Santeetlah we noticed three or four campsites on the lake that looked amazing. Turns out they were part of the Horse Cove camping area, separated by about a mile of asphalt from the campground kiosk and restrooms. We jetted back to one of the empty sites, jotted down the number, and paid our $10 registration fee for the night.

To say that this campsite was nice is a bit of an understatement. Granted, it didn’t have running water (at least in the traditional sense), easy access to showers, or even a restroom nearby – but none of that really mattered. Site J-9 jutted slightly out onto Lake Santeetlah and had two flat, clean tent pads, each with room for a large family tent. There was an upright grill, a ground-level “fire circle” grill, and a built-up rock fire pit, along with a nice picnic table. Two lantern hooks rounded out the amenities.

On one side of the campground there was a rushing stream that emptied out into the lake. Firewood was plentiful thanks to recent storms that appeared to have washed tons of logs and sticks onto the shores. The campsite offered easy access for swimming in the lake, though I’m not sure if it was completely kosher for us to take a dip.

A little fun with the camera at night. Nice work on the flashlight lettering Greg!

With such a nice site I was hesitant to give it up to go rough it for a night out on the trail. Instead we decided to do a day hike loop in the Joyce Kilmer Wilderness area that we estimated would be about 10 miles.

Sometimes maps can be confusing.

At around 11:30am we started up trail 53A toward Jenkins Meadow. Now apparently I can’t read a topo map very well because I was surprised by the climb up to the meadow – at least 1,500 feet in just a couple miles. We ran into a group of three hikers (the only ones we’d see all day) who told us Jenkins Meadow wasn’t really a meadow at all (perhaps it was decades ago). They recommended hiking out to the Hangover overlook for true 360-degree views which was a great tip.

The trail continued to climb after Jenkins Meadow, eventually topping out over a mile high (5,280 feet). Since we started at just over 2,000 feet that was a serious climb and it was interesting to see that the trees were just starting to show their leaves at the top of the mountain. We hiked down to the overlook and were treated to spectacular (and rare) unobstructed views of the Smokies.

Greg takes in the views.

On the way back down we took trail 55 which basically parallels Little Santeetlah Creek and had a much different feel to it than the trail we hiked up. Toward the bottom we were treated to lush greenery, streams flowing in every direction, and enormous old growth trees towering above. Greg and Dan decided to go for a swim in the creek near the end of the trail but Paul and I pressed back to the lake for a (warmer) dip.

The next day we packed up camp and drove to the Deep Creek area just inside Smoky Mountains National Park. From the parking lot we took the short hike to Juney Whank Falls and Indian Creek Falls. We saw plenty of people on the trails and in the water, unlike our previous two days at Horse Cove. From Deep Creek we hit the Filling Station deli for Cuban sandwiches and Frosted Orange milkshakes next door before I had to head back to Atlanta.

Paul, Dan, and Greg ended up spending one more night out, this time at a backcountry campsite inside Smoky Mountains National Park. I’m told they saw a couple of bear cubs up a tree near Clingman’s Dome – seems like I always miss seeing the bears!

It’s hard to believe there’s still another month until summer officially hits – plenty of time to get in more camping and hiking adventures! Where are you heading this month?

Related posts:

1. Smoky Mountains National Park turns 75
2. Smoky Mountains NP: Road to Nowhere and Clingman’s Dome
3. Hiking every trail in the White Mountains

We’re giving free Tripleblaze frisbees to our members this spring for adding campground and hiking trail reviews. Just be the first person to review a campground OR hiking trail and you’ll earn one of these high quality 9-inch fliers!

Of course frisbees are great for tossing around at the campground but they also make great lightweight plates for backpacking. Plus dogs love ‘em and we love hiking with dogs!

Here’s how you can earn your Tripleblaze frisbee:

• Add a campground or hiking trail review to any campground/trail that hasn’t been reviewed yet.
• At the end of the week we’ll take a look at all the new reviews to make sure they’re both helpful and original. If everything looks good, we’ll send you an email asking for your mailing address.

Simple. Of course there’s always fine print so here are more details if you need them.

• We won’t share your name or mailing address with anyone.
• One frisbee per mailing address/email/member.
• You must be a Tripleblaze.com member to qualify (sign up here for your free account).
• All reviews are subject to review (that sounds odd but you know what we’re saying).

Related posts:

1. Tripleblaze News & Updates
2. TripleBlaze redesign
3. Tripleblaze is Looking for Camping & Hiking Gear Reviewers

Congratulations to our April camping and hiking photo and review contest winners, SCgregg1, flbikerunner, and JUICETTE. As usual, we award points to members each month for adding photos, reviews, and videos to hiking, camping, and gear pages an the top contributors each receive a $25 REI gift card.

Starting later this month we’ll also be giving away prizes to ANYONE who adds the first review to a hiking trail or campground page. Stay tuned to the blog and our Facebook page for details on how this will work.

We just got out for our first family camping trip to Lake Hartwell last weekend and we have another backpacking/camping trip planned for early next week. Don’t you love the spring?

Related posts:

1. April Contest Winners
2. January Contest Winners
3. February Contest Winners and News

We rolled out a bunch of new features on Tripleblaze.com last week and now that (most of) the bugs have been worked out we thought we’d give everyone a tour.

Videos

Now you can embed YouTube videos of your favorite hiking trails and campgrounds on Tripleblaze.com with just a link! Use the “embed a video” form and send us the link to the video on YouTube. We’ll preview the video to make sure everything is ok and then we’ll get it posted on the appropriate trail or campground page. We’ve already embedded videos of each of the top 10 hiking trails found on Tripleblaze and we’re excited to share even more hiking and camping videos!

Galleries: Photos & Videos

All the hiking and campground pages on Tripleblaze.com just got two new tabs for photo and video galleries. The galleries offer a quick and easy way to view dozens of thumbnails at once to find the best photos and videos.

Watching, Liking, and Commenting

To help us sort through the hundreds of photos and videos posted to Tripleblaze.com we’ve added the ability to “like” photos and videos as well as a comment function. The number of likes will determine the order of photos and videos while the comments will allow members to offer feedback and ask questions about media posted on the site.

We’ve also added the ability to “watch” photos, videos, and listings. If you choose to watch an item you’ll receive an email whenever anyone comments on or reviews the item you’re watching. You can start and stop watching any item at any time by clicking the watch link on the item page.

Facebook Connect

We’re tired of remembering individual website logins and passwords so we’re offering members the ability to connect their Tripleblaze.com accounts to Facebook for an easy login experience. Whether you’re signing up for the first time or a return visitor, just click the Facebook Connect button to link your accounts. The next time you come back, just click the same button and you’ll automatically be logged in. Simple!

We’re excited about camping and hiking this spring and summer and hope these new features help you make the most out of Tripleblaze.com!

Related posts:

1. Features I want in a recreational GPS unit
2. Tripleblaze on Facebook
3. Tripleblaze March Contribution Contest Winners

Thanks to everyone who added hiking and camping pics and reviews in March – last month was one of our biggest yet! Members flbikerrunner and SCgregg1 earned the most contribution points and will take home $25 REI gift cards. And for the first time we have a “Gear Review” winner – Iron Kalli Cutlass – who earned a $25 REI gift card for adding the most outdoor gear reviews in March.

By sharing your outdoor reviews and photos you’ll help us improve this growing camping and hiking information resource PLUS you’ll also be eligible for one of three monthly REI gift cards. Coming soon: the ability to embed YouTube videos from your favorite hikes and camping spots.

Related posts:

1. March Contest Winners
2. Tripleblaze Contest Winners
3. May Contest Winners & New Tripleblaze Forums

Congratulations to last month’s outdoor review and photo contest winners, SCgregg1 and newcomer Iron Kalli Cutlass. SCgregg1 racked up an impressive triple digit score while Iron Kalli Cutlass added some sweet hiking and camping info across California and Nevada. Once again we didn’t receive a single gear review (!) so there will be no third prize this month.

To make it easier for folks to find outdoor gear to review, we’ve added hundreds of new products this month so if you haven’t checked out the gear review section in a while, get busy! Who knows, just a single review of a sleeping bag or tent could net a cool $25 REI gift card next month…

We also wanted to announce our recent partnership with ReserveAmerica’s campground reservation service that makes it easier than ever to find and reserve great campsites around the country. Just look for the “Reserve” button on select campground pages and claim your spot for spring and summer camping!

Finally, we’ve added a new trip tab that links to info about guided outdoor adventures around the world. The info comes courtesy of SWAE Sports and you can book any of the trips directly through their website for a hassle-free experience. Where will you explore in 2011?

Related posts:

1. February Contest Winners
2. January Contest Winners
3. May Contest Winners & New Contest in June

Congratulations to SCgregg1 and Daveidaho, our January outdoor photo and review contest winners. Both will take home $25 gift cards to help them gear up for their spring adventures!

As a reminder, we’ve added a third $25 REI gift card to the monthly contribution contest for the member who adds the most outdoor gear reviews. This is separate from the main contribution contest and each member can only win one prize each month.

Over the last few weeks we’ve added dozens of outdoor products to the site so take a look and see if your items are listed. Just add a review and you could be a top contributor in February!

Related posts:

1. May Contest Winners & New Contest in June
2. February Contest Winners
3. March Contest Winners

along a section of the Georgia Pinhoti trail in January.

Thanks to everyone who contributed hiking and camping pics and reviews in December – it’s never too cold to think about getting outdoors! Regular contributors SCgregg1 and papasmurf454 took home top honors once again and will be rewarded with matching $25 REI gift cards.

Starting this month we’re adding a third $25 REI gift card to the prize mix for the person who submits the most camping or hiking gear reviews. Our gear review section hasn’t gotten a ton of attention lately but we aim to fix that with new product additions over the next few weeks. If you can’t find the gear you want to review, just add the item first using this form, then add your review. Help us find the best camping and hiking equipment available!

Related posts:

1. December Contest Winners
2. May Contest Winners & New Contest in June
3. November Contest Winners

If you’re like me, you’ve probably day-dreamed about what it must be like to hike for months on end or to complete a “thru-hike” of one of the major hiking trails like the AT or PCT. For many of us, reading about thru-hikes satisfies the urge for a while, at least until the next time we feel the call of the trail. David Miller’s book, AWOL on the Appalachian Trail, guides the reader along the trail and offers a glimpse into the reality of quitting work and pursuing a lifelong dream.

A 41-year-old computer programmer with a wife and three daughters, Miller finds himself living a life that’s “precariously normal” and decides it’s time for him to fulfill his dream of hiking the entire Appalachian Trail. After his company declines his request for a leave of absence, he resigns, more determined than ever to get on the trail. Before hitting the trail, Miller choose a trail name: AWOL.

Initially Miller’s hike seems lonely and I found myself wondering why he would leave his wife and family for the pain and boredom of the trail. I’ve hiked much of the Appalachian Trail in Georgia (where Miller begins his hike) and at times it feels claustrophobic and even depressing, a reality that can be at odds with the mental picture built in the minds of would-be thru-hikers. But Miller is resolved to keep going and throughout the hike he pushes himself to keep a quick pace, undoubtedly because he knows his family is waiting at the end. Throughout the book Miller seems honest about his emotions without coming across as overly analytical or self-absorbed.

While some thru-hikers hit the trail seeking solitude, others do it for the camaraderie and the cast of characters Miller meets along the way are entertaining to say the least. I found Steve O to be particularly interesting and was amazed at how he kept popping up at seemingly random points. Miller also meets some incredibly kind people along the trail – trail angels and family friends – who support him on his epic journey and give him the mental boost he needs to soldier on.

While plenty of thru-hikers have written books (many of them in mid-life crisis at the time), AWOL on the Appalachian Trail has a decidedly unique feel to it. Part guidebook, part memoir, this book is an interesting read from start to finish. And unlike other thru-hike books I’ve read, AWOL on the Appalachian Trail is well paced – descriptions from the end of the trail are just as detailed as those in the beginning.  The depictions of the trail through Vermont and New Hampshire were particularly well written and provide a good contrast to the scenery experienced in the southern section of the trail.

Beyond descriptions of the trail, Miller also fills us in on gear choices, injury prevention and treatment, logistics, and food along the trail. By the middle of the book it was obvious that Miller had become much more comfortable living the life of a thru-hiker and the tips he offers are invaluable. For example: staying in hostels and cheap motels every few days is a good way to avoid bad weather while cleaning up and getting a good night’s sleep. And one of the best ways to load up on calories (and give yourself a mental boost at the same time) is to eat at restaurants whenever possible.

David Miller’s book, AWOL on the Appalachian Trail, is a great read for anyone who’s ever considered putting their work on hold to pursue a dream. And for the hiker, this book offers wonderful descriptions and tips for hiking one of the most well known trails in the world!

Related posts:

1. Running the Appalachian Trail
2. Appalachian Trail News
3. The Appalachian Trail – Through Europe to Morocco?

Last week I got a chance to watch the film 127 Hours, the true story about hiker Aron Ralston’s ordeal in the Utah desert in 2003. For those who don’t already know the story, Ralston was hiking/climbing solo in Blue John Canyon, Utah when a boulder fell and pinned his arm, trapping him for days without food or water. [spoiler alert] In the end Ralston ends up cutting off his own arm to free himself and makes it home alive.

I have to admit I didn’t want to see this movie at first. I mean, I had already seen the in-depth interview with Ralston shortly after the accident so I knew how the movie would end. Plus I wasn’t sure I could stomach watching the film’s climax. But then last week a friend asked if I wanted to go and my curiosity about the film’s treatment of Ralston’s ordeal got the better of me.

127 Hours was directed by Danny Boyle who also directed Academy Award winning Slumdog Millionaire. The film starts with Ralston excitedly packing and driving out to the trailhead by himself for a weekend adventure. He jumps on his mountain bike and makes his way to the trailhead and you really get the felling this is an experienced outdoor enthusiast who is comfortable in a variety of situations. Along the way he meets some other hikers and shows us he’s a social guy, not some survivalist-type out to get away from everyone.

The director does a great job helping the audience imagine themselves in Aron’s situation. As the boulder dropped onto Aron my own heart sank with dread. What can he do to free himself? How can he use the items he has within reach? Then there’s also the “if only” thoughts that creep into the audience’s mind: if only he had told someone where he was going, if only he had been more careful, if only he had chosen a different route through the slot canyon… Clearly those thoughts were also going through the head of the real Aron Ralston.

From this point forward the movie has sort of a “Castaway” feel to it – an uncomfortable view into the world of a man who is trapped and alone. It’s a scary place for anyone to be alone and I learned some things from the way Ralston dealt with the situation (reminding himself at one point not to freak out, for example). By the end you can clearly see Ralston is getting desperate and you’re really rooting for him to do the deed and get it over with, no matter how painful it is to watch (let alone experience). I’m not going to lie: some viewers may want to close their eyes for this part of the movie (though fortunately the director doesn’t belabor it in any way).

Surprisingly the movie has a happy ending to it, despite Ralston’s loss. It’s an affirmation of life really and I came away wanting to hug my family and to live my own life more fully.

The cinematography is great and a real treat for outdoor lovers. The desert scenery is top notch and was actually filmed on location (or at least pretty close by). While 127 Hours isn’t playing in wide release you should be able to find a showing in most major cities. If not, definitely look out for the DVD!

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1. DeLorme Earthmate PN-40 GPS Review
2. Dri Duck Women’s Wildfire Hoodie Review
3. TopoFusion Mapping Software Review

Congratulations to last month’s contest winners, SCGregg1 and papasmurf454. Even though the weather has cooled down that hasn’t stopped folks from adding great camping and hiking reviews and pics – we can’t wait to see more!

Here’s a question for our readers: do camping and hiking naturally belong together? We’re mulling a split on tripleblaze.com for our camping and hiking information and we want your feedback! Our guess is 95% of people who camp also like to hike but the opposite might not be true… Let us know!

Related posts:

1. November Contest Winners
2. October Camping & Hiking Review Contest Winners
3. June Camping & Hiking Contest Winners

We hope everyone has had a chance to get outside to enjoy the amazing fall weather this season – what an amazing time of year! Just wanted to give a quick shout to our October contribution contest winners – Linkterfur and SCgregg1. Wherever you find yourself outdoors this fall, don’t forget your camera so you can post your camping & hiking pics and reviews to Tripleblaze.com, If you do, you’ll have a shot at winning one of November’s $25 REI gift cards. See you on the trail!

Related posts:

1. October Contest Winners
2. September Outdoor Photo and Review Contest Winners
3. August Outdoor Review & Photo Contest Winners

Have you ever been hiking and wondered what the distant peaks you’re looking at are named? Or even wondered how close a seemingly nearby mountain actually is? If you live in Washington or Oregon, you can get those answers and more from RoseLineMaps Peak Finder software.

Enter any location (say the top of a mountain or even your house) and the software automatically locates up to 40 peaks that are (theoretically) visible from that position. We say theoretically because the software doesn’t take into account weather conditions (clouds and fog) or even obstructions (tree cover, buildings, etc.). The software is PC-based which means you’ll need to map out visible peaks before you head out or when you get back (great for identifying trip pics).

Of course an even better idea would be a mobile app for iPhone or Android that takes an “augmented reality” approach. Just point your phone’s camera at the scenery and watch as the names of the peaks in your viewfinder appear on screen. The technology already exists so don’t be surprised if you see such an app soon!

Related posts:

1. TopoFusion Mapping Software Review

The weather is cooling off but that hasn’t kept our monthly contribution contest from heating up! Just one point separated our first and second place contributors, Linkterfur and SCgregg1. Each member added more than a dozen photos and/or reviews in September alone – man, these guys must love camping and hiking!

Get out this fall and take photos of your favorite campgrounds and hiking trails for your chance to win a $50 REI gift card next month!

Related posts:

1. August Outdoor Review & Photo Contest Winners
2. September Winners & Campground Map
3. August Contest Winners

Related posts:

1. Outdoor classes for women

Congrats to our top review and photo contributors in August: SCgregg1 and papasmurf454. Get in your Labor Day camping photos and campground reviews for a chance at a $25 REI gift card this month!

Just got back from a 7-day bikepacking trip from Durango to Moab and it was a blast. Look for a trip report later this month plus more from Outdoor Retailer…

Related posts:

1. August Contest Winners
2. July Contest Winners. Prizes Continue to Roll in August!
3. May Contest Winners & New Contest in June

At Outdoor Retailer we learned a little more about Easton’s carbon tent pole technology and came away suitably impressed. For those who haven’t purchased a tent recently, carbon fiber tent poles are much lighter weight than standard aluminum poles and are more durable as well. Easton’s poles have been tested in extreme conditions like Mt. Everest so they should be up to whatever you throw at them.

This year Easton is debuting a patent-pending tent pole connection system called “AirLock” that reduces the weight of standard aluminum/shock cord pole systems by 59%. AirLock basically does away with the idea of a continuous, stretchy cord connecting tent poles. Instead, special connectors on each end of the pole are held together with a monofilament tether. It’s a little tough to tell exactly what’s fixed and what’s not based on the diagram above so we’re anxious to get our hands on these tent poles in the field.

Video from TrailSpace below.

Related posts:

1. Set Up Your Dome Tent
2. Tripleblaze Introduces World’s First Titanium Dome Tent
3. Tent Optional: Real Men Rough It

The Bamboo Bottle booth had a ton of buzz around it at Outdoor Retailer so we decided to see what was up. The Bamboo Bottle Company produces exactly what you’d expect: bamboo water bottles. Or, sorta. The water bottle is actually made of glass and is wrapped in a bamboo cylinder. We gotta admit though, this is one of the best looking water bottles we’ve seen.

Bamboo is an eco-friendly material because it grows quickly and is therefore both sustainable and renewable, unlike hard woods. And unlike glass or even aluminum bottles, glass doesn’t leach chemicals into your drink – hot or cold. There aren’t many glass water bottles out there since glass is prone to breakage (in case you didn’t know) but the bamboo sleeve helps protect the glass bottle inside. Of course this isn’t the lightest water bottle around so you’ll want to stick to plastic bottles for backpacking.

At $25 this water bottle isn’t cheap and we wonder why the company didn’t keep the bamboo intact rather than planing and gluing it into a cylinder (bamboo is, after all, mostly hollow and cylindrically shaped already). Look for this bottle to hit stores sometime later this year or early 2011.

Related posts:

1. Columbia: Insect Repellent Outdoor Clothing and Drainmaker Water Shoes
2. Backpacking tip: Skip the water filter
3. Outdoor GPS Buyers Guide

At Outdoor Retailer we got a sneak peek at Columbia Sportswear‘s 2011 line of Bug Shield™ clothing which almost sounds too good to be true. While Columbia may not be the first to integrate insect repellent into clothing, they do claim to be the first to offer a full bug-protection outfit from socks to pants to shirts.

Apparently Bug Shield is so new that Columbia hasn’t provided a ton of info about the technology beyond what we found in the 2011 press kit:

This synthetic version of a natural insect protection found in certain types of flowers turns clothing into long-lasting and effective insect protection. Insect Blocker keeps bugs at bay so you can enjoy the Greater Outdoors in peace.

We’ll keep digging to find out more (like how many wash cycles it lasts, how effective it is, etc.). Here’s a video talking about a women’s outdoor shirt that features Bug Shield™.

Columbia is also introducing a set of water shoes that sounds like a great alternative to open-toed sandals and Croc-like water shoes. The idea came from seeing fisherman in Florida who used water-logged, old tennis shoes out on the water (and who probably suffered from chronic cases of trench-foot).

The Drainmaker offers great traction on wet surfaces and features a fully drainable midsole (!) to flush out water. The mesh upper is ventilated, durable, and quick drying – everything you’d want in a water shoe. We’d love to try these whitewater rafting out on the river! Video below.

Related posts:

1. Backpacking tip: Skip the water filter
2. Outdoor tips: Hiking during hunting season
3. Outdoor television shows

Earlier this month we traveled to Salt Lake City for the Outdoor Retailer trade show and came across a ton of new camping and hiking products to share.

The geomate.jr is a simple, kid-friendly GPS unit that’s designed to make geocaching easy (based on the logo we suspect the geocaching.com folks are heavily involved in this product). The device comes pre-loaded with 250,000 geocaches in all 50 US states so it’s ready to go right out of the box. The simple interface shows an arrow and distance-to-cache plus info about the cache itself (terrain, difficulty, size).

Beyond geocaching this GPS device also allows you to set a waypoint and navigate back to that point, perfect for finding your way back to the car after a geocache adventure. There’s also a latitude and longitude display, though we’re not really sure how useful this is to most kids (or even adults for that matter). Two AAA batteries power the GPS for approximately 18 hours.

Perhaps the most kid-friendly thing about the geomate.jr is its pricetag: $69.95. For an additional $24.95 you can update your device with the latest geocaches PLUS create your own geocaches. Now you don’t have to worry about the kids losing or trashing the family GPS! Check out the video preview below.

Related posts:

1. Take your kids camping

image courtesy smokeybear.com.

If you’re not already his friend on Facebook, you probably didn’t know today (August 9) is Smokey the Bear’s birthday. The venerable forest fire prevention bear turns 66 this year and doesn’t look a day over 25 in our opinion! Almost anyone, no matter how young or old, knows Smokey’s slogan – “Only YOU can prevent forest fires.”

In honor of Smokey the Bear’s birthday don’t get him a cake with candles (I’m pretty sure he’s pyrophobic). Instead, send birthday wishes by following him on Twitter or becoming his fan on Facebook. But most importantly, remember his mantra and be extra careful with your outdoor campfires this summer and fall!

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1. Happy Ending to Springtime Camping Rescue
2. “Yogi Bear” Absconds w/ Picnic Basket in Yosemite (video)
3. Bear Grylls Injured in Antarctica

Palomar Mountain SP Campground photo posted by papasmurf454.

Congrats to our July contribution contest winners, SCGuide1 and papasmurf454. Both will receive $25 gift cards to REI for adding their camping and hiking reviews and photos. Only 1 point separated second and third place in July so start getting your August contributions in to make sure you end up on top!

Related posts:

1. Win Cabela’s or REI Gift Card For Adding Reviews in May
2. July Contest Winners. Prizes Continue to Roll in August!
3. May Contest Winners & New Tripleblaze Forums

Congratulations to Tripleblaze member Chrissy, winner of the Coleman Quickpack 2-mantle propane lantern from Kmart.com/Camping! Chrissy added a review of Olive Ridge Campground in Estes Park, CO last week and was randomly selected from dozens of other campground reviewers. Thanks to everyone who participated, stay tuned for more contests this summer and fall!

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2. Nevada Camping Skills Program
3. Camping participation affected by gas prices (sorta)

As a new dad I’ve been eager to find ways to include my daughter in all the outdoor activities I enjoyed before she was born. Of course the jogging stroller was a no-brainer but for our summer trip to Colorado we wanted to hike trails like Mt. Sanitas where even a burly stroller just wasn’t an option. After a little research we chose the Kelty FC 1.0 for its simple, lightweight design, kid-friendly features, and comfort on the trail.

At just under 5 pounds empty, the FC 1.0 is surprisingly lightweight thanks to its aluminum frame and lightweight fabric and padding. The pack features two decent-sized storage compartments behind the kid cockpit with about 1,000 cubic inches of capacity, though unfortunately the pockets aren’t easily accessible when wearing the pack. Kelty has included a small mesh pocket on the hip belt that is easy to access, though it really doesn’t provide room for more than a Cliff Bar or cellphone. If you plan on going longer than a day hike, consider a pack with more storage like the FC 2.0 or FC 3.0.

The FC 1.0 features a patented auto-deploy kickstand which is super handy when you’re strapping your future hiker into the pack. Once you put the pack on your back and adjust the shoulder straps, the kickstand is pulled in so you don’t have to worry about snagging branches or bushes on the trail. Just don’t forget to loosen the shoulder straps before taking the pack off so the kickstand can spring out (especially important on uneven ground). I was a little uncomfortable standing up and sitting down with my daughter in the pack without a spotter, though others may find it more natural.

The kid cockpit in the FC 1.0 is best described as outdoor luxe. The entire cockpit is lined with padded and ultra-soft material that kept my little one smiling for miles. Child straps are easy to buckle and unbuckle and there are several levels of adjustments that let the pack grow with your child. On summer hikes the padding seemed a little hot and confining but for fall and spring hikes this pack should be just right! Kelty also thought to include toy hooks to keep kids entertained for times when the scenery just isn’t enough.

Of course comfort is just as important for the person wearing the FC 1.0 and Kelty has clearly used their experience designing serious backpacks to make this pack a winner. The padded waist strap does a good job shifting the pack’s weight to your hips (saving your shoulders) and it’s easy to cinch thanks to Kelty’s patented Scherer Cinch. My only complaint is the waist strap seems way too long and there’s no system for managing the excess strap length. The FC packs feature mesh on waist and shoulder straps which kept me cool on the trail, even in mid-day summer sun. There’s also a mesh back to improve air flow even further, though my daughter enjoyed kicking me in the back through the springy fabric. A chest strap rounds out the harness system for a great fit for most any body shape and size.

The nylon fabric covering the pack is easy to clean with soap and water which is good; you are, after all, transporting a random mess generator. As a dad I wasn’t too excited about the color choices (no pink fortunately) and I’m surprised the pack colors aren’t more subtle like the outdoorsy-looking Kelty adult packs.

Easily the best thing about the FC 1.0 is its ability to transport a child into the great outdoors and our entire family loves this pack. If you’re looking for a child carrier backpack, the FC 1.0 offers one of the best values you’ll find. No more excuses – get out and hike with your family!

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3. Marmot Leadville Softshell Jacket Review

If you’ve been following the Tripleblaze blog for a while you know I’m really into reading outdoor adventure stories. This summer I got an early read of No Way Down by Graham Bowley which offers a chilling account of the 2008 climbing season on K2 when 11 climbers died in a series of accidents on the mountain. Despite the dramatic death toll the book is an inspiring read about those who survived and provides yet another exciting glimpse into the world of extreme mountaineering.

Most of the climbing books I’ve read focus on Mount Everest, the highest peak on the planet, but it turns out K2 is a much more difficult mountain to climb. In fact, reading this book I learned only around 300 people have summited K2 compared to well over 1,000 who have made it to the top of Everest. One out of every 4 climbers who attempt K2 will die trying.

No Way Down follows several climbing expeditions from the 2008 season and attempts to recreate the circumstances of the tragedy via first person accounts, photographs, and interviews with friends and family members of the fallen climbers. Bowley is not a climber himself but became fascinated with news accounts of the events on K2 which allows him to present an unbiased perspective (unlike 1996 Everest books Into Thin Air and The Climb). The downside is some descriptions and character introductions felt a little dry, particularly in the early chapters. Part of the challenge with this story is the sheer number of teams and individuals that were involved and fitting everything into a roughly 200 page book is difficult.

Without giving away too much about the story (read a short plot description or view a video preview below), things get very interesting about halfway through and I found myself cold and shivering in my seat on more than one occasion. No Way Down allows the reader to place himself in the characters’ shoes and to imagine what it must be like to make life and death decisions at 26,000 feet. I know I’ll never experience climbing any of the world’s tallest mountains but I’m OK with that if I can read stories like this one.

From the back cover:

(H)indered by poor judgment, lack of equipment, and overcrowded conditions, the last group did not summit until nearly 8 p.m., hours later than planned. Then disaster struck when a huge ice chunk from above the Bottleneck, a deadly 300-foot avalanche-prone gulley just below the summit, came loose and destroyed the fixed guide ropes. More than a dozen climbers and porters still above the Bottleneck—many without oxygen and some with no headlamps—faced the near impossibility of descending in the blackness with no guideline and no protection. Over the course of the chaotic night, some would miraculously make it back. Others would not.

This book is a great summer read that may just inspire you to get out and explore. It’s also full of lessons about respecting your surroundings and making good decisions in emergency situations. Bring this one with you camping and I promise you won’t want to put it down!

Here’s a video preview of the book:

Thanks to HarperCollins for an advance preview of No Way Down.

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2. Outdoor classes for women
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If you do any amount of camping you already know the Coleman brand but what you may not know is Coleman outdoor equipment is available online at Kmart.com/Camping. Kmart’s online camping section even features a camp packing checklist, outdoor tips, and camp game and entertainment ideas. Just about the only thing missing is campground reviews!

And that’s where you come in. Add a review to any campground listed on Tripleblaze.com through August 1 and you’ll be entered to win the Coleman 2 Mantle Quickpack Propane Lantern from Kmart. This lantern pumps out a blinding 967 lumens on high and runs for nearly 8 hours. The best part is the new design packs down easily for transport and storage.

The more reviews you add, the greater your chance of winning the Quickpack Lantern on August 1!

Thanks to Kmart.com for providing the Coleman Quickpack Lantern for this contest.

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1. June Camping & Hiking Contest Winners
2. Submit Outdoor News or Products for Review
3. Outdoor classes for women

I’ve had the Hi-Tech V-Lite Altitude Ultra hiking boots for several months now and I’m excited to finally share my review. Last month I even got a chance to hike with the boots on a couple trails near Boulder, Colorado and I have to say I’ve enjoyed every mile.

The Technology

I should start this review by pointing out that I’m one of those guys who does a ton of research before selecting outdoor gear. In the 8th grade I saved up what seemed like a ridiculous amount ($150) to buy the best hiking boots I could find on the market. Luckily my feet had stopped growing at that point and I continued to wear those same boots well into adulthood (I still have them today and aside from a few busted stitches and worn soles they’re still waterproof and mostly functional).

So when it was time to replace my old boots I did my homework once again and found the Hi-Tec Altitude Ultra hiking boots. A lot has changed since I bought my first pair of boots in the early 1990s and I was blown away by the technical advancements Hi-Tec has made over the years as prices have fallen.

Perhaps the most technically advanced feature in the Altitude Ultra boots is something Hi-Tec calls “ion-mask technology.” The company claims ion-mask makes the boots waterproof, hydrophobic, breathable, and lightweight which almost sounds too good to be true. However, I can confirm the boots are waterproof and hydrophobic, though I imagine the latter will fade a bit over time without regular maintenance. In dry environments like Colorado the boots certainly felt breathable while in humid environments like the southeast breathability suffers just a bit. The Altitude Ultra boots are surprisingly lightweight based on their appearance thanks to the fact that they don’t gain water weight on dewy trails or stream crossings.

The Vibram outsole on the Altitude Ultra boots has also seen its share of technical innovations with engineered grip and flex zones optimized for light to moderate hiking. Under the toe box the sole tread is wide, giving you maximum grip on sketchy slopes while the heel end features a stable “brake pad” for slowing descents. The inside of the sole is designed to flex more than the outside giving you great control while minimizing the chances for accidental ankle rolls (ouch!).

Performance on the Trail

Right out of the box I was hit with just how lightweight these boots are and on the trail they felt nearly as airy as a tennis shoe. Yet, this is still a full-function hiking boot with solid ankle support, waterproof protection, and a stiffly flexible sole. And while Hi-Tec may not market this as a backpacking boot I found it more than adequate for hiking with a moderate pack load (my 20 pound daughter and day-hike gear!).

The Comfort-Tec sockliner feels great and offers more than enough padding to keep my bony ankles secure without producing uncomfortable pressure points. Even on hot days when I wore short socks that didn’t quite extend to the tops of my boots the sockliner felt ok against my bare skin. I did notice the stockliner picked up a number of hitchhiker seeds in grassy areas and getting them out at home was a bit tedious.

Many of the trails I’ve hiked in my Altitude Ultra boots have been dusty, rocky trails and in these conditions the boot performed extremely well. Even on steep, hard slopes the boots rarely slipped and I didn’t feel like I needed to pick my steps carefully to maintain stability on the trail.

The Look

Most hikers will tell you they don’t really care how a boot looks as long as it performs but let’s be honest – no one wants an ugly pair of boots. Fortunately the Altitude Ultra sports a classic hiking boot look with real leather (in brown or dark brown) and rustproof metal hardware.

Looking more closely, the Altitude Ultra features some design details that really show how much thought has gone into this boot. For example, parts of the sole tread look like birds of prey and the shoe laces look like real rock climbing rope. Hi-Tec isn’t shy about promoting all the technology that goes into these boots with badges and logos that look a bit like NASCAR sponsorships; the upside is the logos are fairly subtle and mostly invisible from a distance.

Bottom Line

The Hi-Tec Altitude Ultra is a full-featured hiking boot with a lightweight footprint, perfect for hikers who go all day long with lightweight to medium packs. I plan on hiking with my Altitude Ultras for years to come and recommend you check them out for yourself – you won’t find a better value!

Thanks to the folks at Hi-Tec for providing the Altitude Ultra hiking boot for review.

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3. Hi-Tec V-Lite Snowflake Chukka 200i Review

Congratulations to this month’s top review and photo contributors, flbikerrunner (Palm Bay, Florida) and papasmurf454 (Vista, California). Each will receive a $25 REI gift card via email for sharing their favorite spots to camp and hike.

In addition to the ongoing contribution contest, this month we’ll also be giving away a Coleman camping lantern courtesy of kmart.com/camping. Look for details about how you can win in the coming days. Now get out and explore!

Related posts:

1. June Contest Winners
2. May Contest Winners & New Contest in June
3. March Contest Winners

Johnsonville Sausage is giving out $30,000 in prizes this summer and there are two delicious ways to win.

For the creative types, there’s the Share Your Ville video contest where you can upload a video of you and your friends enjoying Johnsonville Sausage. You know, grilling brats on an open campfire or breakfast sausage and eggs in a frying pan in the great outdoors. Organize your video around one of four categories (family, friends, events, or locations) and get your friends to vote for your video online!

If your outdoor excursions are decidedly lower tech, you should definitely enter the sweepstakes online by playing the Grillville game before you head out the door. Play as many times as you like!

As an added bonus, readers of this blog can get an extra FIVE entries to the contest and sweepstakes by entering a special code word. This Week’s Johnsonville GRILLVILLE Secret Code Word is BRATS. Good luck!

Related posts:

1. May Contest Winners & New Contest in June
2. August Contest Winners
3. March Contest Winners

We’ve been asked about camping gear rentals before and a recent blog posting got us thinking about the subject once again. Springwise reports on Contented Camping, a UK-based company that lets you try camping gear before you buy (which is a fancy way of saying camping gear rental). A one to six day tent rental will set you back just over $30 US which seems like a good deal for anything longer than a quick weekend trip.

An even better idea than renting tents, sleeping bags, stoves, etc. is to ask a friend to take you camping so you can mooch off their gear! Seriously, most campers I know are always dying to introduce friends and family to the joys of sleeping outdoors and would be happy to scrounge up some extra gear for you.

If you don’t happen to know any camping enthusiasts, you might be surprised to find that entry-level tents and sleeping bags aren’t all that expensive. For less than $100 you can buy an easy-to-pitch, medium-sized tent at any major sporting goods or department store. And don’t feel like you need to get specialized equipment to make it outdoors: blankets work almost as well as sleeping bags and kitchen pots and pans can substitute for fancy camp cookware.

These days there are more options than ever for outfitting a family camping adventure. No more excuses, get your crew outside this summer!

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2. 10% off camping and hiking gear at Overstock.com thru Monday
3. Tripleblaze is Looking for Camping & Hiking Gear Reviewers

At first I thought this news item was a joke or perhaps one of those co-branded things like the “Boston Marathon in Iraq.” Nope, it turns out Appalachian Trail enthusiasts are serious about adding the “other half” of the Appalachians to the world-famous route.

To be honest I didn’t realize there was already the 2,175 mile Appalachian Trail AND the 1,862 mile International Appalachian Trail (IAT) which extends far north into Canada. Unfortunately portions of the Canadian IAT require train and ferry connections and as such only about 100 folks have completed the whole thing.

Technically the Appalachian mountain range exists in Europe as well (you know, the whole Pangea thing) and runs through Greenland, the UK, Norway, France, Spain, and Morocco. The newest IAT extension will also require train and ferry connections and perhaps even a passport. Could the IAT one day become the longest (non-continuous) trail in the world? Stay tuned.

Related posts:

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2. Running the Appalachian Trail
3. Backpacking: Appalachian Trail – Wayah Bald to Cold Springs Gap

This month’s contribution contest was a close one but in the end, SCGuide1 and papasmurf454 reigned victorious. If you want to get your hands on a $25 gift card to REI in July, just add your campground and hiking trail reviews and photos in June to earn points.

Also this month we just added forums to the site and we’d love to have everyone drop in and introduce themselves. The idea is to provide a space where people can ask questions and give advice about camping and hiking. So stop by and tell us where you like to camp and hike or try to stump everyone with your outdoor question.

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As if you needed another reason to go camping this month, according to the North Face, June is National Camping Month. This is the second annual National Camping Month and the company’s retail stores will be:

offering a series of free clinics on topics such as how to select appropriate camping gear, pack a backpack, pitch a tent, make campfire meals and where to camp locally. The stores will also celebrate National Trails Day on the weekend of June 5 in partnership with the American Hiking Society

So find a great campground and sleep out under the stars at least once this month!

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1. National Camping Month: June 2009
2. National Trails Day Tomorrow (June 6, 2009)
3. June Contest Winners

If you read Outside magazine, you’re probably familiar with Jordan Romero, the 13-year old California climber who was training for an Everest Summit attempt. Well, on May 22, Jordan and his team made the summit and blew away the previous record for youngest climber to scale Mount Everest (16 year old Temba Tsheri from Nepal).

Not content with just bagging Everest, Jordan hopes to complete the Seven Summits challenge in December when he marks #7 off his list, 16,000+ foot Vinson Massif in Antarctica. Well done Jordan, glad you made it safely to the top!

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Here’s a new camping/hiking product you may not have seen before: The JakPak. Although the name implies a jacket backpack, this thing is actually part jacket, part tent, and part sleeping bag. Waterproof and breathable fabric make this a super versatile 3 season jacket where the “sleeping bag” folds down and the “tent” comes out of a hidden rear pocket.

Of course with any design there are always tradeoffs (like tent poles in your back if you decide to lay down in your jacket) but hey, you’ve got a tent strapped to your back! Let’s just say the tent and sleeping bag could be good survival items to have in such a convenient package. Then again, who knows – ultralight backpacking may have just gotten even lighter!

via Springwise.

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2. How to choose the best sleeping bag
3. Tripleblaze Introduces World’s First Titanium Dome Tent

How’s this for a warning sign? I think it means hikers should beware of man-eating trees along this trail.

via digg.com.

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Congratulations to our contribution contest winners for April, 2010: SCGuide1 and F3. These guys have been busy uploading their best camping and hiking pics and earned themselves $25 REI gift cards.

We’re already a third of the way through May but there’s still plenty of time to catch our current leaders, flbikerunner and SCGuide1. Add camping and hiking reviews, pics, and info in May for a chance to win!

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1. November Contest Winners
2. August Contest Winners
3. October Contest Winners

The Look

The V-Lite Snowflake Chukka 200i is, in my opinion, the best looking boot offered in Hi-Tec’s Winter 2010 outdoor insulated footwear lineup.  Although I’m not usually a brown shoe wearer, I chose the honey/sable/taupe color, and it’s actually working for me. Hopefully next year this boot will be available in some combination of black and grey. The fur lining and collar add a feminine touch to what might otherwise look a bit like a men’s work boot, and the leather-like buttons add a rustic flair.

Function

I have another pair of tall, lace-up boots that take more time than I would like to get in and out of but the Snowflake Chukka is great because it slips on and off so easily.  The elastic bands around the buttons can be undone but I found that I can just leave them fastened all the time. I can slip the boots off at the front door when I get home, grab the dog for a walk, and put them back on without much more trouble than wearing flip-flops.

Wearing these boots my feet have stayed toasty warm and completely dry during the recent Colorado spring snowstorms.  I often walk through snowdrifts and puddles without worrying about my socks getting wet.  As for the traction, I have a hill right outside my place that I often slide down in my skateboarding shoes but I have not slipped in these boots. Thus far, these boots appear to be well made and should last me many winters.

The Fit

I have narrow feet, and I usually wear a size 7.5 shoe.  I ordered my Snoflake Chukka 200i boots in size 7 based on reviews I saw online and it turns out the smaller size gives me plenty of room even with thick socks.  The boots fit loosely and my feet and slide around slightly but this is a trade-off I’m willing to make for the easy-on and easy-off feature. When I first wore the Snowflake Chukkas there was a weird pressure on the outside of my foot that almost felt like I had the boots on the wrong feet.  After a few days this feeling subsided but the footbed still feels just a little awkward.

The top of my Snowflake Chukka sits about 6 inches above my ankle and has a gap between my leg and the boot of about an inch.  Because of this these boots probably wouldn’t work very well in knee-deep powder but for walking around town or aprés ski they work great.

When I ordered the Snowflake Chukka 200i boots I was worried about my pant-legs not fitting over them.  I wear mostly wide leg pants and I didn’t want to be the one who has the bottom of my pants tucked into my boots while my pants billow out of the top (the peg-leg-jeans with a muffin-top look).  Luckily my pants easily fit over these boots.  For someone who favors the skinny-jeans or leggings these boots would work equally well.

Overall

The Snowflake Chukka 200i from Hi-Tec is a high quality boot well suited to the cold and sometimes wet conditions here in Colorado. This boot packs serious performance into a fashionable package that’s convenient and comfortable. Lace up a pair today!

Thanks to the trekkers at Hi-Tec for providing the Snowflake Chukka 200i for review.

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The National Park Service is hosting National Park Week April 17-25, 2010 which means free admission to all 392 US National Parks! Just in time for spring, this is a great opportunity to get out and hike, camp, trail run – whatever – in some of the most pristine and beautiful spots on earth. Our recommendation? Hit up the parks with the highest entry fees to get the most out of the opportunity – Grand Canyon ($25), Yellowstone ($25), and Yosemite ($20) come to mind. Free or not, National Parks are a great place to get into the outdoors!

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2. National Parks Announce 3 Free Weekends This Summer!
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Springtime (and pollen) is in the air here and we’re happy to announce our March contribution contest winners: SCGuide1 and bigsweet. SCGuide1 has been filling us in on the best places to camp and hike in South Carolina (natch) while bigsweet has been concentrating on reviewing and posting photos from outdoor spots in Tennessee and Mississippi. Thanks to everyone who contributed in March, things are definitely heating up here on Tripleblaze.com!

The contribution contest continues in April so get in your campground and hiking trail photos and reviews before the end of the month. Stay tuned for a new contest format this summer and a chance to win some great outdoor gear!

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1. October Contest Winners
2. August Contest Winners
3. May Contest Winners & New Contest in June

If you’ve ever been geocaching you know how fun it can be to use your GPS to find hidden treasure (at least the first few times – then you realize most caches are full of junk). Sylvan Sports has hidden their own cache of outdoor gear somewhere in the world – and they’re giving out a series of video clues to help you find the goods.

The prize is a Go travel trailer filled with outdoor stuff including a mountain bike from Niner, camping equipment from Kelty, a Kayak, assorted car racks, and more. So far just one clue has been revealed and don’t worry – you haven’t missed much. Apparently the Go is somewhere between northern Canada and Bermuda. At least we can rule out Miami and extreme southern Texas!

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Good news smartphone users: The Tripleblaze Camping & Hiking blog is now iPhone-friendly! Just fire up the blog on your mobile browser as usual and you’ll see an easy-to-read version of the Tripleblaze blog. No app to pay for or download, this thing just works! The site also works for other mobile platforms as well (Blackberry, Droid, etc.).

The iPhone-friendly blog features reduced image sizes so the pages load lightning fast (thanks m.obile.us!). Stay tuned this spring and summer as we make more of our content available on the go. Just be sure to get trip deets before you head too far outdoors – cell range can be pretty limiting.

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Outdoor gear manufacturer Kelty is getting in on the Haitian relief efforts too and has sent nearly 300 tents to the earthquake zone since January. In one case, some of the Kelty tents were used to house 750 children left without parents after the disaster.

Recovering from a natural disaster like the quake in Haiti can place millions of people into a survival situation that looks and feels a lot like an indefinite camping trip. Water must be purified, shelter needs to be found, and fresh food can be difficult to prepare. It’s great to see outdoor companies like Kelty and Hi Tec recognizing the needs of the survivors and are willing to offer items to make the recovery a little more comfortable!

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Now I’ve heard of almost everything. GTX Corp was recently awarded three patents that cover GPS location devices embedded in footwear. Although it appears most of the applications are in running shoes for now, it’s not much of a stretch to imagine hiking boots with integrated GPS chips in the near future…

The GTX technology transmits location data for tracking purposes and in a hiking context this could be used much like a Spot satellite messenger. Personally I think I’d prefer to have a device that can transmit location data AND be used for navigation on the ground and a shoe-based platform isn’t really suited for that.

We’re still scratching our heads about why you’d want a GPS in your shoe anyway. There are plenty of other places a GPS can be attached to a person (in a watch, for example) that are more accessible and less prone to water/dust intrusion. Nike has had success with their foot pod but that’s just a pedometer and not location aware. Now if we’re tracking mental patients or prisoners instead of hikers, maybe there’s a use for a (covert) shoe based tracking device!

Here’s a video from the GTX CEO hyping the concept:

No related posts.

Congrats to our February REI gift card winners! SCGuide continues to add photos and reviews of campgrounds and hiking trails in South Carolina and won handily with 125 contribution points. And in a last minute upset, michigangurl added Michigan campground and hiking trail photos to clinch second place with 19 points on the last day of the month!

Spring will be here soon so get out and snap those outdoor pics. And don’t forget to share your favorite camping spots and hiking trails – you just might win an REI gift card from Tripleblaze.

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We suppose it’s just a sign of the times but Arizona is closing 13 of its 22 state parks beginning next week due to budget cuts totaling $8.6 million. As you can imagine folks in Arizona aren’t too happy about it and they’re venting some of their frustrations on the official state parks website.

I’m sure the argument has been made that parks are good for local economies, especially in states like Arizona with such unique natural beauty. Here in our home state of Georgia they’re actually looking to add $5 million to improve amenities – like cabins and campsites – to attract more (paying) overnight visitors.

As outdoor enthusiasts it’s up to us to advocate for local, state, and national parks or be faced with a situation like the one in Arizona. We’re pretty sure once folks start showing up and finding locked gates they’ll start calling and writing their representatives.

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Congrats to our top contributors in January – SCGuide1 and Tom from JTX. Both members will receive $25 gift cards to REI and immortality here on the Tripleblaze blog.

Although the weather may not be ideal for camping or hiking at the moment, now is the time to start planning your summer adventures! It’s also a great time to add reviews and photos from the fall while you’re stuck inside for a chance to win your own REI gift card in February. So far this month SCGuide1 is on top again and Sincitybronco is in the #2 spot. The good news is, there’s still plenty of time to get your contributions…

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2. August Contest Winners
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We’ve been fans of the Spot Satellite Messenger ever since we first heard about the GPS device that allows you to track the progress of backcountry expeditions remotely. GPS-enabled devices like the Spot and the personal locator beacon from ACR Electronics also allow the user to send exact location coordinates to emergency responders at the push of a button. Unfortunately, it seems some consumers are abusing devices like the Spot at the slightest hint of trouble or are putting themselves in danger because they figure they have an easy way out.

Take, for example, the group of hikers who summoned emergency responders 3 times in a single trip! In each instance, helicopter crews had to deliver water to the unprepared hikers who later admitted they wouldn’t have even considered attempting the hike without their GPS beacon. These devices have been dubbed “OnStar for Hikers” and “Yuppie 911″ but it turns out cell phone calls to rescuers are just as common in extreme environments with decent cell coverage like Death Valley.

Some may be quick to blame device manufacturers but we think that’s not quite fair. For one thing, GPS beacons are very useful devices when used appropriately (kinda like toilet paper – just because kids might use it to vandalize the neighbors, it’s still a good product). Instead, we encourage search and rescue organizations to continue charging victims based on response costs in cases where the individuals should have been better prepared. Yuppies should have no problem with that

via The Function Blog.

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This is a pretty cool item that didn’t get a lot of press (which actually makes it even cooler): last month Hi-Tec donated 900 pairs of hiking boots to Haitian earthquake victims. The company gave the boots to Souls4Souls.org which will distribute them to men, women, and children in Haiti. Not ones to toot their own horns, Hi-Tec makes no mention of the donation on their website – all I was able to find was this short press release on another site:

Hi-Tec has donated 900 pairs of men’s, women’s and children’s boots and shoes to soles4souls.org for distribution to victims of the earthquake in Haiti.

“Our hearts go out to our Haitian neighbors as we struggle to comprehend the magnitude of this disaster, and we cannot forget how important basic necessities – such as shoes – will be in the ongoing rescue and rebuilding efforts,” said Bill Berta, CEO of Hi—Tec USA. “We deeply appreciate the work of Soles 4 Souls and encourage everyone to look into their own closets in support of this tragedy.”

And as you can see from the image at the top of this post, Hi-Tec also supports our National Parks and other great causes. Kinda makes us feel good to see outdoor companies stepping up and helping out…

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These days it’s rare for me to head out for a hike without a GPS unit in tow and over the past few weeks I’ve been putting the Garmin Colorado 400t through its paces. The Colorado 400t is a rugged, high powered, and full featured GPS that’s ready for any adventure you can dream up.

Hardware

Before we get into software, let’s talk hardware. The Colorado 400t is compact – about the size of a cellphone, only thicker and a bit heavier. The case is rated IPX7 waterproof which means it should be safe for up to 30 minutes of accidental immersion in water (though sadly it doesn’t float so be prepared to dive after it!). The GPS runs on 2 AA batteries which in my opinion is a mixed blessing: yes, you can power it continuously in the field by replacing batteries as needed but it’s not nearly as convenient as a rechargeable, integrated system for trips closer to home.

Perhaps my favorite hardware feature on the Colorado 400t is the Rock ‘n Roller input wheel. With one hand you can quickly navigate from screen to screen, even with gloved hands. The input wheel also makes entering descriptive track and waypoint text a cinch, an operation that is painful on most other Garmin GPS models.

The Transflective color TFT screen offers up plenty of detail in brilliant color but I found I needed to use the battery-sucking backlight in all but direct sunlight. For hikes that move in and out of tree cover, an ambient light sensor would certainly do the trick in adjusting backlight on the fly to save battery power.

Satellite fixes were snappy and I even got a decent signal indoors thanks to the high-sensitivity WAAS receiver on board. There’s an SD card slot to expand the Colorado 400t’s built in memory, though sadly accessing it involves removing the batteries.

Software

There are 3 different versions of the Colorado 400 and the letter on the end of the model name designates which pre-loaded maps your GPS includes. The 400t, which I tested, is the topographic version and includes topographic maps covering the US baked right in. To those who may be new to the GPS game, this is a big deal because in the past you had to buy topographic software separately and even then it was nearly impossible to fit maps of the entire US onto your GPS at one time. I’m don’t know if future map updates are included with the Colorado 400t but fortunately topographic data doesn’t change very often. The pre-loaded maps also include roads and other landmark data, though you’ll need additional software to use turn-by-turn navigation features.

Marking waypoints (custom points of interest) is simple: just hold down the center button on the input wheel while viewing the map and your current location will be marked. Recording tracks is a little more difficult and involves resetting previous track data before heading out but once you’re done the Colorado 400 includes a cool tool for cleaning up your data. When you save a recent track, the Colorado 400 prompts you to find the start and end points for the track using the input wheel so you can cut out the trek across the parking lot or the part where you accidentally left the GPS on for the car ride home. Name your recorded track and the Colorado 400 saves the data to a standard GPX file. Simple.

Speaking of GPX, the Colorado 400t is one of Garmin’s most compatible GPS units to date. To load a GPX data file on your device, just plug the GPS in via the included USB cable to your Mac or PC and drag and drop the files in place. You can also access track files created on the Colorado 400t via drag and drop. No need for clunky desktop software, especially now that basemaps are preloaded.

Garmin has taken openness a step further and includes support for custom KMZ-formatted basemaps. I won’t go into a ton of detail here but basically you can create your own maps (or download them online) to overlay on top of the included Garmin basemaps. Garmin even has a great tutorial for creating your own custom maps on their website to help you get started.

Aside from the basics of track and waypoint management, the Colorado 400t has a raft of features to help you find your way outdoors. From wireless sharing between Colorado units to location-based games and geocaching-specific tools, the Colorado 400 can do it all. There’s even a 3D view to help you visualize terrain that’s connected to the internal compass so you can spin around your surroundings to get an idea of what lies ahead. I also noticed a data field for temperature – both air and water – though I couldn’t find references to this feature in any of the printed or online literature. In any event, at a glance the temperature readings seemed fairly accurate.

Summary

If you’re looking for a GPS that can do it all – from geocaching with the kids to multi-day backcountry exploration, the Colorado 400t is up to the challenge. With powerful software in a rugged, easy to use package, the Colorado 400t is quickly becoming the GPS of choice for serious adventurers everywhere.

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Congrats to our December contest winners, SCGuide1 and jamesh32, for their contributions to Tripleblaze.com last month. We expect things to heat up over the next few months as the temps bottom out and the days start getting longer so get your contributions in for your shot at $25 from REI! (details here)

Just as a reminder, all submissions to Tripleblaze.com should be your own work and may not be copied from other websites. We take copyright issues very seriously and we can’t accept photos or written content without permission from the original creator. If you suspect any content on Tripleblaze.com has been copied without authorization, please contact us with the specifics.

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2. October Contest Winners
3. June Contest Winners

Here’s a super cool product for 2010 that we’re filing under why-didn’t-someone-think-of-this-before: GearPods. GearPods is essentially a modular adventure gear system that’s perfect for outdoor activities like hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, or even trail running. The “pods” are interlocking tubes that sorta look like those vacuum tubes they use at the bank or Home Depot and can be purchased as full kits or empty containers.

The Backcountry GearPods kit is packed with enough survival gear to sustain any adventurer for days in the wild and features items in the following categories: first-aid, basic survival, and even cooking. We’ve seen plenty of compact and portable first-aid kits but the Backcountry takes things to an entirely different level with matches, fuel, a CookMug, purification tablets, fishing tackle, whistle, compass, mini saw and knife, flashlight, and much more. Everything fits into a modular and durable package that’s roughly 9.5 inches high and 3 inches in diameter – the perfect size for an adjustable diameter bike bottle cage or side sleeve on a daypack. Fully stocked the Backcountry kit weighs in at just 18 ounces.

GearPods are water-resistant which means your important survival gear should stay dry even if you don’t. Although GearPods aren’t entirely waterproof (don’t drop yours in a lake, for example), you can enhance the water resistance by sealing the screw connections with duct tape (which is actually included!) or bicycle tubes and rubber bands. Before GearPods I often used zip lock bags for keeping things dry and organized but I found they often punctured inside my pack. GearPods are constructed of polycarbonate so they’re tough plus you can see what’s inside just like a plastic bag.

Beyond being insanely useful, GearPods are simply beautiful. From the iconography to the tight and neat packaging you can see that a lot of thought went into creating each GearPods kit. The orange caps and connectors make it easy to spot the kit inside a pack and the simple labels let you know what’s inside each compartment at a glance. There’s a raft of compatible kit components from aerated caps (for drying damp gear) to the GearPods Barista which turns your CookMug into a French press coffee maker.

Contents of the survival kit. The first-aid kit contains standard first-aid items.

As with any survival or first aid kit, it’s important to periodically check your kit to make sure things aren’t expired or broken. Even more important, check to make sure you replace any items you may have used in your last trail “emergency” – kits are only useful when they’re complete!

One GearPods enhancement I’d like to see is the addition of a simple survival guide. Many of us are probably already familiar with outdoor basics but in an emergency situation it’s important to make the most of your resources. I for one could probably start a fire using just one match but I’d struggle to use the included fishing equipment successfully. Some items, like the spool of thin wire, may require a little explanation. Should it be used for building small game snares? Fixing broken equipment? If it’s the former, I’ll need a primer, preferably with diagrams. The Backcountry does include instruction cards on signaling and CookMug operation but I could definitely use a little more info in the field.

Now that I have the Gear Pods Backcountry kit I sorta hope I get lost on my next epic hiking or mountain biking trip. Even if I don’t have to use my kit, at least I’ll be more confident when I head out into the woods, ready for any situation. Besides, I can think of worse things than turning a day hike into a 3 day adventure!

Thanks to the folks at Gear Pods for providing the Backcountry kit for review. If you’re looking for more info, check out the video review below.

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1. Marmot Leadville Softshell Jacket Review
2. DeLorme Earthmate PN-40 GPS Review
3. Teva Elixer 5 Review

I’m a big fan of any outdoor gear I can use even when I’m not on the trail. I use my camping headlamp to find help me stuff in the attic and install windshield wipers in the driveway after work; in college I used my sleeping bag as a comforter on my bed; and these days I’m wearing my Marmot Leadville jacket to walk the dog when I’m stuck in suburbia. Now if I could only find a weekday use for my tent and camp stove…

The Marmot Leadville Softshell is a fitted jacket that’s pretty much perfect for fall and even winter conditions here in the southeast. It’s designed to fit over your base layer and I’ve found it fits well over everything from t-shirts to sweaters. It’s also thin enough to fit under a down or fleece vest if necessary.

Don’t let this jacket’s everyday good looks fool you – it’s actually packed with some serious outdoor tech. To start, it’s equipped with Gore Windstopper which means it’s water resistant yet breathable, perfect for misty summit hikes in the fall or spring. The Marmot M2 softshell adds a layer of wind resistance and durability in an attractive low, maintenance package. My favorite part? Dog hair doesn’t stick like it does on my North Face fleece jacket.

The Marmot Leadville is also great at blocking the wind thanks to a sporty, high collar and velcro wrist closures. It seems like Marmot thought of everything, right down to the elastic waist cincher that is accessible via the front pockets. No need to get your hands out into the cold to make adjustments, this jacket has you covered. There’s even a small inside pocket for your iPod with access for headphone cords. The inside front is covered in a super soft microfleece that almost feels a little too luxurious.

Marmot says this jacket is ideal for hiking and backpacking, high aerobic sports, mountaineering, and “urban.” I definitely give it the thumbs up for the first two, though the third (mountaineering) is a little questionable. I probably get the most use out of my jacket on the urban side of things but this jacket works equally well in the city as it does in the backcountry. Even if you get dirty and sweaty in the Leadville, it’s a cinch to clean – just toss it in the wash! In fact, washing this jacket is the best thing you can do to prolong its water resistant capabilities for the long term.

When I say that I wear this jacket all the time, that’s really not an exaggeration – I absolutely love the versatility of this jacket. In fact my Leadville has probably already paid for itself since I’m wearing it in the house and keeping the heat below 68 degrees this winter. Pick up a Marmot Leadville Softshell to stay warm and dry on your active adventures this fall and winter!

Thanks to W.L. Gore for providing this jacket for review.

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The Ardica power supply is basically an array of flexible lithium ion batteries and is sold separately from the jacket. The battery array has two power outputs – one to power the two USB ports for gadgets (left and right pockets), the other connected to the integrated heating elements within the Mountain Hardware jackets (3 elements, 2 front, 1 rear).

The power pack is recharged by plugging into one of the USB outlets in the jacket and LEDs mounted in the wall unit let you know when the battery is charged. Just don’t forget the battery when you toss the jacket in the wash. I wouldn’t want to fall into a lake or get caught in a downpour in this jacket either.

Word is the entire battery system weighs just under 300 grams which is great news. One charge will get you 3-9 hours of heat or 20 charges for your iPhone (or whatever device you’re packing). The jackets start around $230 and the battery array will set you back another $150. Cool… er, warm.

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Quick shout out to SCGuide1 and Asfyxiate for winning $25 REI gift cards again in November. With cooler temps creeping in you may be tempted to hang up the boots and pack away your tent but there’s lots more to come this year. Even if the weather does have you sidelined and sitting in front of the computer, how about adding pics and reviews of your favorite adventures from this summer to Tripleblaze.com!

This winter we’ll also be introducing some other contests over on our Facebook page where we’ll be giving away even more REI gift cards. Become a fan before you forget so you’ll be able to keep up with the latest!

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2. August Contest Winners
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Here’s a cool gift idea for anyone who will be spending time outdoors this winter: The Beard Head. This machine-washable, wool/acrylic face mask should keep your head and face warm in all but the most blustery conditions. There are several color combos to choose from including “viking,” “pirate,” and “lumberjack.” I vote for a new color, the “Yosemite Sam” in fire red!

The cool thing about the Beard Head is that you can even switch out the mustache for a different look. The Fu Manchu adds a slightly longer, droopy mustache while the Mario looks like, well something out of a video game. There’s also the Walrus mustache which I think I’d call the Flanders instead. I never realized how many cartoon characters had facial hair.

The Beard Head is just $29.99 and the add on ‘staches are less than five bucks each. I’m hoping this points to a trend in creative but functional winter masks. Maybe this means we’ll be seeing fewer of those stupid ski and snowboard hats with horns on the slopes this winter.

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Although I’d much rather be hiking or mountain biking the day after Thanksgiving, it’s tough to pass up great deals on outdoor equipment. Here are a few deals you need to know about this year.

REI: The first 300 customers through the door at REI stores on Black Friday will receive gift cards ranging in value from $5 to $100. Stores open at 8am so there’s no need to wake up before dawn – sweet.

Bass Pro Shops: Apparently there will be different deals at each store from 6 to 11am on Black Friday. For example, my local Bass Pro will have a $39.99 dog bed for just $14.94 and a digital food dehydrator for $70 off the regular price. Check here to find your local store and view the deals in your area.

Dick’s Sporting Goods: The folks at Dick’s are being coy with their deals this year and to find out what’s on sale you have to check the website after 6pm EST tonight. Doors open at 5am on Black Friday and if you’re shopping online you’ll get free shipping on orders over $49 all weekend. Honestly I’m a little confused about what’s on sale where and when so it may be worthwhile to call your local store.

Backcountry.com: No Black Friday deals as far as we can tell but their “Secret Stash Sale” is going on right now with up to 25% off 10,000 items.

Cabela’s: Ho-hum, Cabela’s is offering free shipping on orders over $99 through December 1. Of course there’s also the everyday “Bargain Cave” with thousands of items marked up to 70% off where you may find a decent deal.

That’s all we got so far, if you know of any Black Friday deals on outdoor equipment we missed, fill us in through the comment section!

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