Mountain Man Am I

Hard Top Storage - 2003 Wrangler TJ

2018-10-30T15:18:00.000-06:00

Signs of Life

2014-07-09T15:53:00.000-06:00

It has been about 18 months since my last post. I started this blog to help me get through graduate school, and (surprise) once I graduated I stopped posting. I'd like to start writing my trip reports again, as well as gear reviews and anything else related to the outdoors. My last post was about my trip to Glacier National Park, but I never actually posted about my trip! There is a reason for that, but I'll lay that all out once I actually write the post.

I have a trip planned to the Tetons next month, a local trip planned with my cousin in August, and another fishing/backpacking trip to the High Uintah's in the works as well. I'm selling my MSR Microworks filter today so I can get a Sawyer filter before the Tetons trip, and have other gear exchanges I'm working on. Needless to say, there is plenty to write about, I just need to make it happen. This was just a quick post to let my followers know that I'm still alive and well, I've been hiking more than I ever did during my three years of grad school, and am running three miles every morning so that I can enjoy my hikes even more (lightening my "load" so to speak).

Actual post still to come...in the meantime, here is a little teaser taken during my trip to Glacier Nat Park:

Filling in Life's Gaps

2013-02-09T17:03:00.000-07:00

Did you know that more than half of all blogs do not survive longer than their first post? I don't have a credible source to actually cite that statistic, but I look though Google Reader at all of the blogs that I used to follow, and most of them have not been updated in six months or longer. Although I haven't written in a few months, I hope to start posting more and more once I have finished the final semester of my graduate studies.

Two Medicine Lake - This is where Geoff and I will be camping our first night

Although I will have to wait until August to go on my trip to Glacier National Park, for more than five months now I have been planning with my buddy Geoff, and have gotten so excited about it that the very thought of going is what finally pushed me to write another post again. I was going to write about the planning process, but instead want to write about what has helped me get through the last 2.5 years of graduate school since I am now in my final semester.

St. Mary's Lake is where we will be camping our last night of our 3 day/4 night trip

It takes a good amount of work and dedication to plan a backpacking trip, and even more dedication to actually carry it out. To drive a full day in order to spend three days hiking and sleeping on the ground is not for everyone, and that's o.k. Such a reqirement is a great vetting of those who enjoy the outdoors, and those who are dedicated to exploration and experiences which may very well alter their own lives. It is through our own experiences that we form and shape our personalities and interests, and it is thanks to our memories that we pursue additional adventures. It is the thought of fly fishing with my father when I was younger which keeps me continuously pushing for more trips. It was the bliss I found at my family's cabin in Pinecrest, CA which got me through a period of intense struggle while living in a foreign country - a great opportunity for growth when I was unable to communicate my thoughts and insights on life (which felt as though they would burst out of me), if only my tongue would have cooperated in my ideal time-frame.

The Teton Trip (aka, the trip that saved me) - this photo was taken from our campsite in the backcountry
of the Tetons. I honestly feel that my experience in graduate school would have been less
enjoyable was it not for this trip which then set off a chain of other trips I now look at
as stepping-stones that helped me get through two masters degrees.

The amazing trip to the Tetons with Geoff before starting my graduate studies helped push me through the last two and a half years of studies. This one trip lead Geoff and I to plan additional trips which then turned into stepping stones. I can now look back on the trips and see that they helped me get to where I now am in my graduate program. Could I have put my passion for the outdoors on the back-burner to then focus on my studies? Sure, but I can guarantee that doing so would have made the last two and a half years very dull and monotonous, and I probably wouldn't have been a very pleasant husband to be around. In fact, with my undergrad studies I did just that, and by the last two semesters I was so burned-out that my performance in school waned, and my GPA paid the ultimate price.

The second trip Geoff and I planned, this time to Canyonlands. It was here that we
both realized we would compare every subsequent adventure to our Teton trip.

I remember my buddy Ben who told me (while he was working on his PhD) that he had to get out to rock climb or go fly fishing or else he would burn out very quickly. I was surprised by this, as up to that point I assumed that in order to be a "good" student one must put all hobbies and passions aside in order to then focus on excelling. Now I understand that the adventures are what filled the gaps. Just like how a small dash of salt in a recipe can be the difference between an excellent dish or something only worthy for the trashcan, so to does a little dash of one's passion mixed in with life's obligations and duties make the difference between success and failure, or enjoyment instead of simply enduring.

I am now able to see that this lesson is not only applicable to my schooling, and that I can use this throughout the rest of my life. I want to work hard to be successful for my family, but this isn't possible if I don't continue to tap into my passions and teach my sons the importance of exploring the outdoors, and discovering the world outside of our urban lives.

Belated Trip Report: The High Uintas

2012-11-11T21:48:00.001-07:00

Provo River Falls

This Summer I went on a trip but failed to post a report about it. It seems that this last year of my graduate program is taking away more of my free time than the first two years, but I want to be more dedicated to posting regularly as this is still one way I have to get the natural high that I always find when outdoors.

My long time buddy Devin called me up a few months prior to this trip, shooting out the idea to go backpacking in the High Uintas so we could get some serious fly fishing in. He had never been backpacking before, so this trip would be especially significant for him. We had one goal in mind: catch fish, and a lot of them. Seemed easy enough, we had both heard amazing stories about people catching hundreds of fish in the Uintas, so we felt that as long as we got up there then we would get sore from bringing in so many fish.

During our planning process I decided that it would be a good idea to invite Chuck, my buddy/next-door neighbor who was just starting to get into fly fishing, and to also invite my friend Ben who had gone with me to Fish Creek reservoir at Boulder Mountain twice before. Although I generally like to keep my numbers down to as few as possible, I thought that four was still a manageable number, and that we would all have a blast. I'm not at a point where I feel comfortable taking responsibility for a large group of people who haven't spent much time backpacking, but felt that two (Ben and Myself) on two (Devin and Chuck) was a good ratio.

Crystal Lake

Panoramic of Crystal Lake

Night 1 - Crystal Lake
Devin suggested going to the Crystal Lake trailhead which leads to several other lakes. This was the closest trailhead with multiple options, and was also the closest to where all of us would be driving from, so it made the most sense to meet there and camp at Crystal Lake on the first night. As Ben and I would be driving from the north, and Chuck and Devin were driving from the south, we wanted to make sure that we picked a place where we would be able to meet up with ease. That evening we all met up without a problem, and I immediately saw the difference between isolation vs. companionship. I enjoy solo trips for the feeling of isolation, but hanging out around a fire telling jokes, or standing around in the darkness calling each others lies about seeing shooting stars is hard to beat.

Fishing the next morning was slow, to say the least. It has been a few months since the trip, but I'm pretty sure that Ben caught something at each place we stopped to fish. Devin caught a fish or two as well, but we all decided to pack up and head to Duck Lake so that we could spend a good amount of time figuring out how to be successful with our efforts.

The hike to Duck Lake was really pretty. It was only about 3 miles to Duck Lake, and it was pretty the whole way. There were a few ponds which weren't even marked on the maps, and then Weir Lake and Pot Lake which were. We passed two or three groups of scouts on our way to Duck, one of which had reported successful fishing at Weir Lake. I knew that we would pass some people as this was a fairly popular trail, but I wouldn't have guessed that we would see so many boy scout troops.

Duck Lake

Night 2 - Duck Lake
We found Duck Lake without a problem. As soon as we saw the lake, we also saw a group of scouts camped right next to the trail, so we opted to hike to the other side of the lake in hopes that we would find a campsite to use. We really didn't have a desire to camp right next to a group of scouts, so we were pretty excited to find the nice campsite that we did which was off of the trail and pretty isolated. We soon came to the realization that the voices of teenaged boys carry very easily - especially since we were camped below some cliffs which only bounced their voices directly to us. I'm pretty sure that at one point the boys were having a contest to see who could be loudest, but their leaders eventually asked them to stop, reminding them that they weren't the only ones there.

Fishing was pretty slow like it was at Crystal Lake. Before the trip I had given Ben a hard time for bringing his waders and float tube, but I quickly ate my own words as he caught one fish after another. The rest of us were only able to fish off of the bank, all the while the fish were chilling in the middle of the lake where Ben was able to cast. At one point near dusk Devin found a deep hole next to the cliffs, and landed enough for he and I to eat fish that evening.

Devin casting on Duck Lake

Right when Devin and I went to the bank to gut our fish it started to rain. It quickly went from a drizzle to a complete downpour. I left my rain shell back at camp, along with the contents of my pack spread over a rock, so by the time I was done gutting the fish I was soaked - along with everything in my pack.

Ben showing us how it's done

Dinner was pretty good. I didn't have the satisfaction of eating my own catch, but Devin's fish tasted just as good as mine would have. Just as we did the previous night, we enjoyed talking late into the night. It was especially nice having a fire to dry ourselves out with. It was while hanging out and laughing around the fire that I realized how great of an idea it was to have Ben and Chuck come with us.

Day 3 - Weir Lake

Weir Lake - My Favorite

After another day of both Chuck and I getting skunked, we decided to hike back to Weir Lake and spend several hours there. That lake was, by far, my favorite of the trip. We were the only ones there and the lake was picturesque. Ben continued to catch fish after fish, and I managed to catch one - yes, only one. I decided that the next time I take a trip like this I'm going to follow Ben's example and carry the extra weight required to kick out to where the fish are. We only hiked a few miles each day, so carrying another seven to ten pounds would be worth the ten or more pounds of fish that I would catch.

No matter how amazing a trip is, there is still a level of energy which comes with the anticipation of going home. Chuck was literally bouncing on the trail (which either says something about how much he missed his wife, or said what he thought of the trip). The rest of us were excited and ready for home as well, but it's safe to say that all of us were already thinking of our next trip.

Chuck on the trail home

There are several things I learned/observed from this trip which I want to remember for future group trips:

Instead of everyone keeping track of their own trash, we placed it all in a large trash bag. Bad idea! I volunteered to pack it out, but really we each should have carried our own trash back out - empty soup cans and all.
We planned out our meeting location so well that even though we arrived two hours apart from each other, there was no problem finding each other in the dark.
It is a good idea to not only pack for yourself when going on a group trip, but to think about "the group" as well. We only had two flashlights for the four of us, so putting tents up in the dark took more time than it would have had we been prepared.
Ben and Devin both had new packs and sleeping bags. It would have been a good idea for them to test out their equipment at home before the trip. Although their bags worked out fine, the sternum strap to Chuck's pack broke. If he would have known about the design flaw a few days before the actual trip then he could have made a permanent fix without a problem. Instead, he had to go without his sternum strap - something which isn't trip ender, but which is one of three ways to distribute the weight from your pack (the other two being your hip belt and stabilizer straps). Always a better idea to discover small problems at home which could turn into bigger problems on the trail.
Pumping water for the four of us is quite possible with one pump, but is time consuming as well. A 2:1 ratio instead of a 4:1 would be better. We had tablets as a backup, but didn't want to use them unless we had to.
Eating fish in the backcountry is especially messy and smelly. I didn't even care about hanging our food that evening simply because we all reeked of fish so bad that any bear would have loved to use our digits as finger-food. Next time it will be a good idea to either wash everything which smelled of fish (including our hands), or place them in a bear bag along with everything else.

For a final thought I have to say that sometimes it’s best to just go and have fun - still prepare adequately, but just make the trip happen. This was Devin’s first time backpacking, Chuck's first time fly fishing, and Ben’s first trip since starting a job which didn’t allow him to get outside where he belongs. The trip provided everything which a good trip should: an opportunity to think without distraction, a chance to hit the “restart” button, and the gift of just living in the moment without thought of life’s duties and obligations. There were no mishaps, everyone made it out fine, and there were no close calls other than the three of us wanting to poke a hole in Ben’s float tube out of jealousy.

**As a side note, my camera that I posted about previously (with a horrible review) did quite well. It may be worthless at taking photos inside, but landscape photos turn out pretty well.

Packing Heat in the Backcountry

2012-10-07T22:08:00.000-06:00

Imagine: You are hiking in the backcountry, where very few people go, when you stumble upon a camp. Unlike a hiker’s temporary campsite, there is evidence that someone is actually living there. There is a make-shift shelter, enough food to live on for a few weeks, and enough trash and clutter to tell you that whoever lives there has been there for months. Getting the creeps, you move on, longing for the isolation you had just moments before coming across the bizarre scene. As you push forward though, you remember hearing about marijuana farms being harvested on public lands, isolated enough that no one would come across it. These “farmers” would not just allow someone to come across their camp, especially since the hiker would be able to point out exactly where the camp was on a map.

Is this what you just stumbled upon? Your senses immediately heighten, and you listen for anything in the woods which would tell you that someone is watching you. You saw a trail leading into a valley just beyond the camp, but have no intention of going exploring at this point. Were you seen? You are two days into your hike, and have another two days to go, so there is no turning back…

An example of what a lone hiker could stumble upon when in the backcountry
(Taken from The Yakima Herald)

There is a never-ceasing debate about whether firearms belong in the backcountry or not. Doing a search online will show you that passions for gun rights run just as deep as passions to keep guns locked up - the same is true when it comes to having guns in nature. Some feel that there is no place in nature for guns, and that they don’t belong; such is the case for Backpacking Magazine’s gear editor Kristin Hostetter. At the same time, others feel that having a gun while in nature is a good defense from wild animals. No matter which side of the argument you favor, both sides have valid points.

Is it contradictory to go to a place for solace, yet feel the need to carry a gun?
Check out this report from Chattanooga about the AT murder/rape statistics

Personally, I like to go into the backcountry to get away from the hustle and bustle of life, so the idea of taking a gun with me on a day hike seems contradictory. A gun would make me feel like I was bringing protection, not like I was hiking into freedom. For backcountry trips however I have a different opinion. I’m not talking about hiking in designated backcountry within a national park, I’m referring to the thousands of square miles of public land within my state. Just this year the top DEA agent in Utah, Frank Smith, warned Utahans who venture into the backcountry to be cautious. Mexican drug cartels have used land in southern Utah for enormous marijuana farms, and are protected by armed guards.

NBC’s Dateline was reporting about this very phenomenon in Utah last March. Dateline's reporter expressed my own thoughts perfectly when he said “what’s going to happen when a family of hikers stumbles across one of these grows? With $20 million to $40 million on the line, do you think these growers are just going to let these people go?” Doubtful...

Although this scenario seems very extreme and far-fetched, there are still many other horrifically possible situations. Take, for instance, the incident which happened just off of the Appalachian Trail last March. Two buddies are camping in the middle of nowhere when a stranger comes across their camp. They are all friendly with each other (even have dinner together) when, for no apparent reason, the stranger shoots both men several times. They are able to drive themselves to safety and survive, but it’s just one example of what can happen when you are in the middle of nowhere. By the way, this same shooter served half of a 30 year sentence 10 years before this incident for killing two other hikers on the same trail in the 80’s.

So, to pack heat or to not? It’s ultimately your decision. Personally I would rather not come across a hiker who is visibly carrying a handgun on the trail, so if I choose to carry then it will be concealed. Will I carry at all when hiking on a busy trail? Nope. Will I carry if I am within a national park? Nope (in some parks it’s illegal anyway). If I decide to hike on a long trail, such as The Great Western Trail or the Pacific Crest Trail, I most likely will though – even if does add a few pounds to my pack. Want to pack heat in order to defend yourself from wild animals? Read this research study from Brigham Young University before you decide to try shooting a bear to defend yourself.

Had to share this ridiculous photo I found. While it does offer an interesting contrast, the
medical gloves and the gun pointing at Yosemite Falls is just too much.

While searching the latest reports of marijuana farms in Utah, I came across this interesting website which shows you what to look for when identifying a marijuana farm, and this article which is only one month old, and shows video footage of an abandoned camp where DEA agents ceased 3,600 plants in southern Utah, and which agents feel belonged to the Mexican Cartel.

Opinions? Feel free to share below.

Gear Review: Fuji XP20 Camera

2012-07-01T16:16:00.004-06:00

A little while ago (as in before Christmas) I decided to sel,l what I felt was, a cumbersome camera for a simple point-and-shoot which would not only be lighter and easier to carry while backpacking, but which would also last through the elements that I encounter while in the outdoors. I wanted something that still took excellent photos, but which would give me peace of mind when hiking in the Summer heat or Winter temperatures, or would survive me dropping it into a stream. I came up with this plan after seeing an advertisement for the FujiFilm XP20 in a Backpacker magazine, and felt that if I could find one for a decent enough price, then it would be worth pursuing. I found one for just around $100 at Costco and snatched it up after selling my previous camera (Sony's Cybershot DSC-H2).

In a nutshell let me just say that I have been disappointed in some ways, but feel that the camera lives up to it's purpose. It is a small camera with serious durability, and suits my needs while in the outdoors. It does not, however impress me with indoor photos, photos with tricky lighting situations, or pretty much anything other than a photo outdoors with the right light and decent conditions. Even outdoors it is very difficult to see whether or not the photos taken are acceptable or not, as the viewfinder shows blurry photos consistently - even when the photos look good when uploading them onto the computer.

Here are a couple of better photos I took while on a trip to California

Utilizing the fun panoramic setting - be careful when you choose which side to start the panoramic shot, if you are shooting a stark contrast with lighting then one side of your photo won't look too hot.

This photo looks decent, but you can tell that it was taken with a cheaper camera. Just goes to show that megapixels are not all that counts when trying to pick out a decent camera.

The bottom line: buy this camera if you are wanting something that will take a beating and keep on shooting, but don't buy it if you are looking to be artistic. I'll take it with me on the trail, but I won't rely on it to take family photos or anything of more significance than scenery. I haven't had a chance to take any shots underwater, but will try it out when fly fishing in the Uintas next month. I guess that I now have a reason to buy a more expensive camera that will not only outshoot this camera, but the one I gave up for this one as well.

Back On The Trail Again

2012-05-28T21:37:00.000-06:00

This is what I get to study while driving home from work

Two months without a post??? Not sure what to say. Guess I could blame being busy wrapping up my Masters of Social Work program, or the fact that my wife just gave birth to our second child two weeks ago, but the truth is that I have lost some focus on my own wellbeing to be honest. Being willing to sacrifice all of my leisure time to be with my family is not a bad thing, but while driving home this evening I realized that I temporarily lost the purpose for me even starting this blog - to remain well rounded and healthy while juggling my masters programs, full-time work, and spending quality time with my family.

It is easy to hyperfocus on the important things in life while forgetting that those "smaller" things can actually help one to be more efficacious with life's goals and values. Hiking is one of those things which help me to be a better person. Weird of me to say? I could, and just may, write a complete post about this one topic, but the short and sweet is this - by giving enough attention to all of my life's values, I am much more capable of achieving my goals (especially by being the father/husband/friend/son/brother that I want to be).

Amazing view of Squaw Peak from my backyard

Getting up in the mountains helps me to put things back into focus, so I better get up there! One of the reasons I love living in Utah is that I am within walking distance of four different trailheads, all of which lead up a different canyon and wrap around the mountains I look at whenever leaving my house or driving home. I honestly love this place! Some may bash on Utah for various reasons, but the truth is that wherever you live along the Wasatch Front (where roughly 80% of the population resides), you have an amazing view, and are within short driving distance to hike, fish, bike, or camp. It's a shame to live so close to so much and to not take advantage of it!

Just got done speaking to my wife about helping me set a hiking goal, and that was enough to get my blood pumping again, so I had to pound out a quick post. Have been planning on posting about survival stories I have read lately, and will also be posting about packing heat in the backcountry. After I finally get a couple of good hikes in then I will be able to give an accurate review on the weather-resistant camer I purchased for myself several months ago. Glad to be back!!!!

Are YOU an outdoors-snob? (Elitism in the backcountry)

2012-03-11T20:36:00.000-06:00

A few weeks ago I posted a question in an online forum for rock climbing. As I am strictly a novice on the topic, I decided that it would make sense to ask those who know a lot about the sport before I began a business venture which would cater to it. I posted a simple question asking for opinions, and for the most part I received a positive response. There were the less-than-positive responses as well, including the gentleman who was kind enough to point out that if I "had any pull in (the) industry, (I) wouldn't be (there) asking (those) questions..." Very nice of him to remind me that I am but an ant compared to the giant outdoors industry.

This experience got me thinking about sports in the outdoors, and made me wonder if we are just as bad as any other sport out there when it comes to elitism. Do we too have a hierarchy within our sport, with the car-campers who spend hundreds of dollars at the bottom, and mountaineers who can afford thousands of dollars worth of equipment as well as expensive traveling expenses at the top? If this hierarchy does exist, what is it that sets our sport apart from the rest?

The more I thought about these questions, the more the very thought of it disappointed me. I have always loved the outdoors because anyone can afford to go there, and even the dirt poor can afford to take a walk on a trail. One of the reasons I first became interested in backpacking was due to the fact that once I purchased the essential gear needed for an over-nighter, the only costs associated with the sport is strictly for food, gas to get to the trailhead, and possibly an entrance fee if you go to a National Park.

Don't take me for an ignoramus, I've always known that there are more or less expensive products in every existing sport, just as there are those who can or can't afford them. Even if you were to enter a home repair store you will see products which "get the job done," and those that get the job done with style and finesse. The part that bothers me is that those at the top of the outdoors hierarchy take those at the bottom for pathetic little wanna-be's.

Good old family camping

While writing this, I can't help but think of my Jr. High School years when I thought that I was a skater. I owned a skateboard, had enough skating-brand t-shirts to last me a week at school, and was always looking for cool stickers to purchase for my closet door at home (I could only fit so many on my actual skateboard). I had all the skating flare someone could wish for, yet I lacked the ability to actually skateboard well. Where was I on the skating hierarchy? Although my ability to skateboard was a little better than a beginner, I put myself above anyone I deemed as a "poser," or someone I felt was in the sport just to "look cool"without the dedication to really "live" the sport.

So how does this translate to backpacking, rock climbing, or any other sport in the backcountry? Well, flip through any outdoors magazine and you will see advertising for products that are not so expensive, and those that are ridiculously costly. That isn't to say that the expensive products aren't so steep for a reason, but the point is that there is a very wide spectrum of affordable and not-so-affordable products in every sport, giving those who have money an advantage over those who don't. Thus the opportunity for elitism. Why won't you hear very many outdoorsmen bragging about their new North Face jacket? Because you can find The North Face products in literally ANY sporting goods shop - not just the stores that specialize in rock climbing, backpacking, and mountaineering. Does The North Face jacket still keep you warm and dry? "Well yeah, but...," and then come the countless reasons why The North Face is no longer taken seriously, and then talk about the many other brands which do a much better job, and which are nearly indestructible.

One final story:
I once needed to fix my kitchen sink and instead of driving all the way to Home Depot, I went to a major plumbing store used by general contractors and plumbers. When I asked one of the clerks for help finding a specific fitting, I received a cold "you're bothering me, and are worth nothing more than the dirt on my sole of my shoe" sort of look, which was followed by a quick response which included directions to walk just past a bunch of fittings I had never heard of before, straight across from some water lines I wouldn't recognize if they hit me square in the face. Thinking that I may have been a little paranoid, I asked my co-worker at UPS who also managed one of the stores where I had this experience. He confirmed that the employees of this plumbing supply chain are used to working with professional plumbers who spend hundreds or thousands of dollars with each visit, and that they tend to get annoyed when having to work with the average Joe who needs to fix his toilet. Elitism in the plumbing industry???

See! Escaping the elements WITH style:)

Conclusion:
The point of this never-ending post is this: WHO CARES!!!! If you want to get outside to experience natures endless wonders, do it. Whether you bring a black trash bag to repel water, or a $600 breathable jacket with all the bells and whistles; either way you will be outside, and this is all that matters. Sure, there will always be the outdoors-snots who love to check out everyones gear to then pass judgement while claiming that those who are "hardcore" wear certain products - WHO CARES!!!! Decide for yourself why you get outside, or why you buy certain outdoors apparel. If you are one of those outdoors-snobs just remember, it's not about doing the sport in style, it's about loving the sport - period.

Should They Stay, or Should They Go???

2012-02-19T20:56:00.000-07:00

Whenever I think of the story I read on Backcountry's blog a few weeks ago, I can't help but think of the Clash's song, "Should I Stay or Should I Go."

Apparently this lady thought that her kid would have an enjoyable time being strapped to her back while she climbed up the face of a cliff. Looking at the child's expression pretty much sums up why I have a hard time understanding why some parents insist that their children do everything with them, and go everywhere the parents go.

There are three people in this photo, and only two smiles. Can you guess which one is feeling left out from all the fun???

So why would parents want to take their child on an adventure when the kid is too young to appreciate the view, or the climb, or the work to get to the destination, or the feeling of "roughing" it? I honestly feel that parents don't do it to make their kids miserable, I think that the parents feel that the extra effort it takes to pack the kiddies along shows an unselfish desire to include the kids in everything they do - regardless as to whether or not the little ones want to be there or not. Although they have good intentions, it's important to ask yourself whether your child (note that I say child - not teenager) will be more comfortable at home or roughing it outdoors.

I am a firm believer of getting kids away from their videogames and other devices which tend to numb the brain, and get them outside for some good old fashioned fun. I do feel that there is an appropriate age for every adventure though. Going on a short hike with the youngsters is one thing, but taking them on a multiday backpacking trip is something completely different.

Ever want to know if your kids enjoy the trips that you take them on? Take a look at the photos...they have the tendency to speak the words some kids are too young to say. Look at the photo above! Who has the helmet? It may only be a 20-30 foot climb, but can you imagine how terrified that kid would be if she were to take a fall?

If you ever find yourself debating on whether to take the young kids or not, just ask yourself who it's all about - you feeling good about including them, or the kids who are too young to tell you what they want.

Wing Suit - Revisited

2012-02-01T19:46:00.001-07:00

Back in October of 2010, I posted a video of a few guys base jumping while wearing wing suits (A.K.A. flying squirrel suits). It amazed me then, and it amazes me still. I had a dream shortly after that post where I was flying like they were in the video, and have pretty much been obsessed with the concept ever since. Although there are plenty of videos out there like the one I originally posted, this video blows me away!!! It is a 360 degree video where you can control where to look as the base jumper flys next to cliffs in Norway. Enjoy:)

Sorry I can't add the video, click on the image to be sent to the original website though

Gear Essentials: Identification (Road ID Review)

2012-01-07T14:13:00.001-07:00

And I thought that being away from school for Christmas Break would mean plenty of new posts for the blog...looks like laziness and leisure got the best of me:)

A few weeks before Christmas my friend Geoff told me that he was going to buy me a Christmas present, but needed some info from me first. He asked for my address, telephone number, wife's telephone number, father's telephone number, if I had any medical conditions/allergies, if I was an organ donor, and he finally asked for a quote or personal motto (I had no idea what phrase I would want to claim as "mine," so I told him that I didn't know). Geoff also asked me whether I would like to wear this gift on my wrist, ankle, or my shoe. At this point I was pretty confident that he was either making or purchasing some sort of ID that I could wear while in the backcountry, but I was honestly feeling skeptical as to whether I would actually wear it or not. When the time came to finally open the padded envelope which had "Road ID" stamped all over it, I was pleasantly surprised.

I remembered having seen advertisements in Backpacker Magazine for Road ID, and thought that although I could understand why it would be smart to wear something like it when in the middle of no where, I highly doubted ever seeing myself purchasing or buying one. I was very impressed when I opened the padded envelope and saw the ankle ID. It was bright red with a strip of reflective material around the center, and instead of being some cheap nylon bracelet which would irritate my skin while wearing it, the whole bracelet actually had a comfortable neoprene backing.

My bracelet looks like this, except my quote is much more original...

The small identification plate is very low profile, yet contains all of the necessary information search and rescue would need when coming across my unconscious body. I was kind of confused when I looked at the bottom of the ID plate, as it said "Eat my butt first." It took me a few seconds to understand why Geoff would have put this down as my personal motto, but once I connected the dots I started roaring with laughter! During our last campout, Geoff and I were talking about the survivors from the plane that crashed in the Andes back in 1974, and we asked ourselves if we would have resorted to cannibalism in order to survive, and whether we would want someone eating our bodies if we would have died in the crash. I concluded that I would want the survivors to eat my body since I wouldn't be needing it anymore, but told Geoff that I would want them to eat my butt first - this way I would know that they were REALLY desperate, as eating someone's buttocks is much less appealing than eating a thigh or shoulder. I was impressed that Geoff would remember my ridiculous request, and am positive that if he ever has to eat my body then he will respect my wish...

I have to now include identification in my "Gear Essentials" list for several reasons, all of which are very obvious. If you are unconscious when search and rescue comes across your body, there is no way for them to know if you are allergic to anything, or if you have any medical conditions which need to be taken into consideration before treating you for injuries. If you were to be alone when you died, the only way to identify your body without having to go through a long and drawn out process is to have ID on you. Who really carries their wallet with them when going out in the backcountry? I know that I always leave mine in the car. Not only would it be a good idea to wear this when hiking, but I've decided to follow the story which lead to the creation of the Road ID company, and wear mine when running as well.

I'm feeling pretty good about this gift Geoff gave me, and still get a laugh when looking at the quote he chose for me. I have wondered whether my quote would confuse the search and rescue team though, and hope that they don't think that I want them to break out the knives and forks to devour my gluteus maximus before treating my wounds.

Take a look at the website for Road ID in order to see the many products that they offer. They not only have bracelets for your wrist and ankle, but they also have dog tags and plates you can attach to your shoelaces.

Survival Movie Review: The Edge

2011-12-04T20:16:00.001-07:00

I don't see myself devoting much time to giving reviews on books or movies, but since I had so much fun writing about 127 Hours I thought that I would write a review on another movie I have enjoyed for a while now.

The Edge came out back in the 90's, stars Anothony Hopkins and Alec Baldwin, and takes place in the Alaskan bush. Anthony Hopkins plays Charles Morse, a billionaire who travels to Alaska with his wife in order for her to model in a photo shoot. When Charles and two others go on a plane ride, they crash and find themselves miles from where they told everyone they would be, and are left on their own to fend for themselves in hopes that they will be found.

Instead of continuing to give a plot synopsis, I'll explain why I enjoy this movie so much.

Although everyone knows that Charles is rich because of his ambition and ability to think critically, they all secretly think that he is a joke and that his money buys him everything he needs - except genuine friends. Charles comes across a wilderness survival book near the beginning of the movie, and is seen reading it while his wife does her photo shoot and at other various times. He is able to retain pretty much everything that he reads - which ultimately saves him.

Throughout the movie Charles is able to keep his head on straight, remember the material he read in the survival book, and take on the role of leader in his little group. Once a giant man-eating grizzly bear starts stalking them, the movie gets much more exciting. Both Charles and the antagonist of the movie are left alone to figure out how to take down this huge bear that wants nothing more than to eat them for dinner. At the pinnacle moment of the movie, Charles remembers reading about dead-falls, but realizes that they don't have the time or tools to dig a hole big and deep enough to make one work. So, without giving away what happens in the movie, Charles thinks of a brilliant way to take down the bear.

I would definitely recommend this movie to anyone, and would say that it makes my top 10 list for survival movies. I've watched it three or four times, and would feel fine watching it again tonight:) Check out the parental advisory to be aware of why the movie is Rated R.

Favorite quotes from the movie - all of which come from Anthony Hopkins' character Charles:
"What one man can do, another man can do"
"We're all put to the test...but it never comes in the form or at the point we prefer, does it?"
"Most people who die in the woods die of shame"
"Say it! 'I'm gonna kill the bear!!!'"
"Did you know that you can make fire from ice?"

***I've been very busy with school lately, but plan on finally compiling all of the info I have come across over the last three months to write my post about outdoors blogs. It's taking more time than I expected to really look over each blog and come up with a way to rate them. Promise it will be worth the wait though!

Does Customer Service Matter???

2011-11-06T20:26:00.002-07:00

A few months ago I mentioned in my Yellowstone trip report that I made the dumb mistake of strapping my trekking poles to my pack without making sure that all of the locks on the poles were each tight and secure. Due to the fact that I strapped them right side up, two of the three sections of one pole unknowingly slid out. I'm pretty sure that I hiked for most of the day before my buddy first noticed that they were gone.

What can you do with one section of a trekking pole? Nothing. Think you can just go to REI and pay for a couple of replacements? Wrong. I reported to the NPS at Yellowstone that I lost them along the trail, and they gave me a form to fill out in case anyone finds them and brings them back to the backcountry office. I knew it was a long shot, but figured it would be worth it nonetheless.

I have really enjoyed my trekking poles since getting them. You can pick these up at REI for under $90.
I have no complaints at all so far.

After a couple of weeks I knew that they were a lost cause, and I decided to contact Black Diamond to see if I could purchase a couple of replacement sections instead of having to purchase a new set of trekking poles. I decided on my Yellowstone trip that I was no longer interested in using trekking poles unless it was for snowshoeing, so I knew that if I couldn't spend five or ten bucks on replacement parts, I was going to go a long time without having a complete set in my arsenal.

I wrote an e-mail to the customer service rep for Black Diamond, explaining how dumb I was, and asked what they could do for me. Here is the response I received the very next day:

Zachary,

My apologies for your troubles with your Trail back poles. You are correct in that this is not a warranty situation but I appreciate you taking responsibility for the situation and it sounds like you know how to prevent it from happening again so I’d like to send you a pair of lowers at no charge.

Just get me a good shipping address and I’ll get a set out to you.

Regards,

Elmo-BD Warranty

Can you believe that? No charge for shipping. No charge for replacements. Not only did they help me out once, but another two times after that. There was some miscommunication when I told the rep what I needed, so when I got my package I only received two "lowers" instead of one middle section along with one lower section. Again, the rep apologized and sent a second package with the middle section. When I told him if he wanted me to ship back the extra lower he sent me, he told me to just hold onto it for a spare just in case I need it one day.

So here is the point of this e-mail: Does a company's customer service make a difference to you when deciding which company to purchase gear from? Does a return policy make a difference? Is it something you even look at before purchasing, or even look into after already having a product? I'll admit that I never look at a return policy until the poop hits the fan. Knowing how amazing Black Diamond treats their customers will forever make a difference for me. If I am ever debating between another product and a Black Diamond product, there is no doubt I will go for Black Diamond. I'll also admit that knowing that Black Diamond is based in Utah helps me want to buy from them as well...

Do you have any amazing, or less-than-impressive customer service stories? Share them with the rest of us!

Trip Report: Yellowstone - Old Faithful to Lewis Lake, Day 3 of 3

2011-10-23T21:00:00.003-06:00

Alright, last and final day of my backpacking trip in Yellowstone a of months ago...
Check out the other two days:
Day One - Old Faithful to Shoshone Lake
Day Two - Shoshone Lake, sites 8R5 to 8M1

Check out Geoff's take on things, and a few more photos here: Day One, Day Two, and Day Three

Final decent view of Shoshone Lake

Day 3: Campsite 8M1 to Lewis Lake

The morning of day three was the coldest by far. The night before I hung my underwear outside to dry out over night. I was happy to see them still hanging on the branches I hung them on, and was not surprised to find them frozen stiff (note to self - if you're going to rinse out clothes, and you plan on wearing them the next day, do this as early in the afternoon as possible so they can actually dry out).

It was only about forty minutes after all of us got up and starting getting our breakfast together that Jordan said "guys!" and had a look on his face like he saw something exciting. I thought he was just joking with us, and waited for him to chuckle or something. Then I looked at where he was staring, and saw this...

Geoff and I grabbed out cameras, excited to FINALLY see some wildlife! The moose was impressively quiet, and although it was aware of our presence, it didn't seem to mind us creeping up closer to get a photo. So exciting! Just as quickly as he walked through our camp, he disappeared through some brush about thirty yards away from us.

I was so happy to have finally seen some wildlife. To be completely honest, I personally don't see the purpose of visiting Yellowstone more than once or twice. There is an incredible amount of backcountry worth seeing, but I feel that the real pull to go there in the first place is to see moose, bears, elk, buffalo, ect. To see a buffalo on the side of the road is pretty cool, but to be in the backcountry when seeing wildlife is that much more impressive. Being miles and miles away from any help when seeing a wild animal brings with it a natural rush. Who knows if the animal is going to be o.k. with your presence, or may see you as a threat?

Although I love my backpacking trips, I always seem to hike with more anticipation on my last day. It's not that I look forward to the trip being over, I just look forward to being with my family again. For most of the day I played a psychological game with myself, trying to focus on just enjoying the hike instead of feeling anxious or rushed to get out and back home ASAP. Even though I felt like I was hiking a hair faster than the other two days, Geoff and Jordan proved otherwise. During the other two days the three of us hiked within talking distance of each other, and we (honestly I should say, rather, Geoff and Jordan) would wait for whoever was straggling behind (me...), but the third day I only really saw them when we started out on the trailhead, when they stopped by the river for a photo opp, and then whenever they stopped to wait for me.

Interesting, Geoff and I have never really talked about "the last day phenomenon" when he tends to walk twice as fast, leaving me out of sight and out of mind. He did mention it in his post of the trip, assuming that I might have been annoyed by it, but I don't think it really bothered me at all really. It gives me an opportunity to just take the scenery in and get a final alone-time. It does make me more self-conscious though, assuming that Geoff may be bothered with me falling behind, but we will have to talk this out the next time we go on an outing together. Here is what Geoff said in his post:

I don't know why but the last day of a hike I always just push harder. It isn't that I want to get out of the woods or even get the pack off my back. I just feel like I can improve my time, like a runner that catches a 2nd wind. Something that is hard to explain. I'm sure it annoys Zach a little bit, he is the one always putting up with it.

We were forced to cross the river when finishing up Shoshone Lake. It was at this moment that I wished I would have had my camp shoes I posted about a few weeks ago. The water was cold, but the real problem was wearing a 40 pound pack while walking on sharp rocks. Having anything on my feet for protection would have made all the difference. I felt like I was the wimp when it came to crossing though. Jordan and Geoff didn't seem bothered by it at all.

It was also at this moment when we had to decide between taking the shorter route which would have taken us up and away from the river which connected Shoshone and Lewis lakes, or take the longer route which would follow the river the rest of the way until we connected to Lewis Lake. Although I wanted to save time in order to get out faster (remember, I still had an 8 hour drive home AFTER actually hiking out, and promised my wife I would be home before she went to bed), I grew tired of the indecision when weighing out our options, and voted to just stay close to the river. Although it added another 1.5 miles, I'm glad that we did. The scenery was gorgeous throughout most of the hike, and it was fun walking within view of the water.

The Tetons in the distance while at Lewis Lake

Once we made it to Lewis Lake, we soon stopped on the bank and I took the above photo of the Tetons. There is something about the Tetons that I can't really describe. Maybe it's due to the fact that it was at the Tetons that Geoff and I had our first backpacking trip together (and it was my first backpacking trip ever), or maybe it's because the feel at the Tetons remind me of, what I consider to be, my second home (the Grand Sierras), or it's just because the Tetons are so gorgeous - whatever the reason is, whenever I see the Tetons I get a serious longing to be there.

Lewis Lake, towards the trailhead

When we finally made it to the trailhead, I was honestly planning on hitchhiking to Old Faithful to get my car, and then come back to pick up Geoff and Jordan. I thought that the chances of Geoff's wife getting to the trailhead within fifteen minutes to a half hour of us arriving was slim-to-none, and that hitchhiking would get us out of there quicker. We had only been sitting there for maybe two minutes when Geoff's wife pulled up in their truck! When we got to the trailhead Geoff walked out to the road to flag down his wife, and it was only a minute or so after that when she drove by the turnoff. This was, by far, my favorite moment of the day:)

I've kind of started a tradition for myself, something I found myself thinking about constantly on our hike out that final day. The last two or three trips I've done have ended with a nice greasy hamburger, fries, and a coke. Something about not having to prepare such a high caloric meal just feels like heaven after going without any real comforts while on the trail. I should have done my research and found a good hamburger within Yellowstone, but ended up waiting until I got to Idaho Falls since I was crunched for time, and just bought a cheap fast food burger instead.

This was a really fun trip, full of adventures and hard-learned lessons. When I got home I took out the instructions for my MSR filter, and found out what a true idiot I was when packing. Thinking that every ounce counts, I left the instructions for the filter, and the scrubbing pad to clean the filter at home. All I had to do was scrub the ceramic element for about thirty seconds and the thing worked as good as it did when I used it before. I mistakenly assumed that when I boiled it before storing it, this would have taken off any sediment or contaminants. It took care of the contaminants, but not the grime that slows down the filter. Never again!!!!!

I put off writing this last post for several weeks after seeing that I wasn't getting too many views. I had a lot of fun with the previous posts about equipment and such, and will soon be posting about the best outdoors blogs I have found, as well as some survival blogs as well. Stay tuned!

Gear Junkie Revisited (Timberland's present to me)

2011-09-25T20:29:00.000-06:00

A while back I wrote a post about a contest I won on Facebook where I wrote a joke about how Chuck Norris would use some amazing camp shoes made by Timberland. Gear Junkie held the contest, but I never received the prize.

Shortly after writing that post I received an e-mail from Gear Junkie, apologizing for the delay and promising that the camp shoes were on their way to me.

Two weeks ago I came home from school to discover a large box with my name on it. I opened the box and found present after present, all from Timberland!!!! Not only did they send me the camp shoes that I won on-line, but I also received a low-cut hiking/biking boot, a mid-cut gore-tex boot, a high-cut leather working boot, and a very light-weight day pack!!!! My wife was very entertained as each time I pulled an item out I said "NOOOO WAYYYY!!!", and was in complete awe that I was the lucky guy to receive such high quality products. It felt like Christmas in September!

Here are the sweet items I received. Can't wait to try them out to write reviews on Timberland's website!!!!

High-cut leather working boot

AMAZING gore-tex boot

View of the camp shoe when unzipped

View of the camp shoe when zipped up

Low-Cut hiking/biking boot

Very light-weight day pack

The purpose of this post is not to brag about all the cool stuff I received for free, but to show what great products Timberland has to offer, and to encourage others to participate in legitimate on-line contests.

Needless to say, being in grad school does not give me much room to indulge myself with purchasing new equipment, so I am VERY fortunate to have these items added to my arsenal:)

Top 10 and Top 100 Hiking and Camping Blogs

2011-09-16T09:56:00.001-06:00

I don't usually write quick and short posts, but thought that I would pass on this info I just came across today.

Two Heel Drive is one of those many outdoors blogs that I follow, and a couple of days ago the author posted his top 10 and top 100 hiking and camping blogs. He explains how he narrowed his 100 blogs down to 10, and why he feels that they are blogs worth reading.

Not sure if any of you are on Google Reader, but it is a GREAT way to subscribe to blogs instead of having to receive e-mails every time each blog is updated.

Check out the Top 10 blogs according to Two Heel Drive! There are other great resources on this website as well, including tips on starting a hiking blog (something I probably should have read before starting mine I'm sure...).

Survival Bracelets - more than just a fashion statement

2011-09-11T22:47:00.000-06:00

More and more people are wearing these bracelets, and it seems like fewer and fewer people know what they are. I complimented a girl's survival bracelet several weeks ago, and she said "my what?" I repeated myself and she said "oh, why is it called that?" I gave a few examples of what the bracelet can be used for, and she looked at me like I was stranger than the fact that she was wearing a bracelet that she didn't even know the name (let alone purpose) of.

550 paracord is military grade cord first used during WWII on parachutes. Servicemen were able to use this cord from their parachutes for a number of different reasons. 550 means that the cord is able to support 550 lbs before breaking. Although it is fairly easy to see what several feet of rope can be used for, it's important to know that the cord gets its strength from the seven strands of two-ply yarns. So while the rope itself has several uses, the guts of the cord serves several purposes as well.

Here are several ways to use the cord:

Replacement shoelaces
Replacement belt
Clothes-line
Support line for shelter
Tying branches together for shelter
Trip-line for trapping game
Line for snares
Fishing line
Fishing net
Cord for a bow-drill (to make fire)
Tying splints
Tourniquets
Sewing threads
Emergency line to rappel
Line to hang a bear bag
and literally anything you would need to use a rope for (as long as you have enough cord that is)

Easy to see why it's called a survival bracelet eh?

Make Your Own

There are at least two kinds of weaves to use when making a survival bracelet. The standard cobra weave, and then what some call the king cobra weave which is really just the standard cobra weave which is doubled back on itself. Here is a video for the standard cobra weave:

and here is the video I used for the thicker bracelet:

As the videos said, every inch in the standard bracelet equals one foot of paracord; every inch of bracelet with the king cobra weave equals two feet of paracord. You can see why it would useful to have 16 feet of paracord around your wrist. They didn't state this in either of the videos above, but if you need the cord in an emergency situation then you can pull out the core cord that the weave is tied around and the weave will simply fall apart.

Next time you see someone wearing one of these bracelets ask them why it's called a survival bracelet and see what they say. It has become pretty trendy to wear these. Although the trend may stay or die-out, the uses for 550 paracord will not. The cord is nylon, so it won't rot if it comes in contact with water.

Gear Essentials - Choosing the right knife for the right occasion

2011-09-04T21:58:00.001-06:00

There are several items that are essential when hiking, backpacking, or being in the outdoors, and a knife would be one of them. The reasons to have a knife on you when in the backcountry seems obvious enough, but I'll list a few just for fun: cutting, killing...that about sums it up:) There are many things you would want to cut (paracord, food, duct tape, ect), and in a survival situation a knife becomes arguably the most important item you could have. I will admit that I have secretly pictured myself taking down a mountain lion with a knife when it leaps to attack me, but am sure that my knife would remain in my pocket as I reach for my bear spray if a grizzly were to come around my campsite...

Not the best choice for lightweight hiking...

Choosing the right knife for the right occasion
A couple of weeks ago I read an article on-line about the worst choices made when purchasing equipment for backpacking. Several of the contributing authors agreed that their choice of knife was one of those poor choices. They said that they wanted to be ready for any possible scenerio, and assumed that the biggest and baddest survival knife would do the trick - even if it did weigh as much as their boots. Remember watching Rambo and seeing that awesome knife that had matches inside the handle? Yeah, one of the authors admitted to purchasing one of those.

1- Consider the weight
Knives vary in weight from just over one ounce, to as heavy and hefty as you can imagine. Here is the Gerber Mini Paraframe Knife. $10.82, 2 inch serrated blade, and weighs 1.6 ounces. You may not take down a bear with this mini knife, but you will be able to cut small branches and paracord. If you really want to make sure you are prepared with a serious knife then you could opt for one of those Rambo knives, or get the knife I received from my wife for Christmas - the Bear Grylls Survival Knife (11.2 ounces).

This is more like it

2- Consider the uses
What will you be using it for? Strictly hiking/backpacking? Survival and emergency preparedness?
A simple knife such as the paraframe may not start a fire for you by itself, but you have the option of getting the Bear Grylls Gerber survival kit which includes the lightweight knife along with an emergency whistle, waterproof matches, snare wire, emergency cord, and a cotton ball for a fire starter.

3- Consider the worst case scenario
You are better off being prepared for any situation that may come across your path, but be smart at the same time. How far are you hiking from any life-line (cell phone signal, any other people, ect)? If you are within walking distance from civilization, then you probably won't be needing to start hunting and gathering for survival, but if you are in the backcountry then you will need to bring your own life-lines. Personally, I want a simple knife for light-weight hikes, but also want those items that will get me out of a sticky situation (once again, the survival kit I mentioned above).

There are many other knives out there which would be great choices. Here are a couple other great knives you may want to consider:

Trip Report: Yellowstone Nat. Park - Old Faithful to Lewis Lake; Day 2 of 3

2011-08-28T20:28:00.001-06:00

One of many pools in the geyser basin

***Click on photos in order to magnify for better detail
After falling asleep at the end of day one, I felt disheartened and frustrated by the set-backs related to my gear failing me. I hoped that a good night's sleep would help me feel better about the fact that I had two more days of hiking without an effective means of filtering my water, and I actually did wake up feeling much better about everything in general.

Day 2: Shoshone Lake (site 8R5 to site 8M1)
Due to the fact that we were forced to boil our water without another solution (other than skipping any sort of filtration), I woke up to one Nalgene bottle of filtered water, and one bottle of noodle water from the previous night. I remember reading in Backpacker (of course) that it's a good idea to drink the carb-rich water from cooking noodles instead of throwing it out, and thought that it would make more sense to use this for drinking water as opposed to boiling a new pot for drinking...

Sound gross??? Well, it was. The first couple of drinks weren't that bad, but by mid-afternoon I was pretty repulsed by it. I knew that we only had a limited amount of fuel for cooking, and that there was no way we would have enough to boil water for the three of us on the 1.5 canisters we had. I thought about it long and hard, and decided that the water in the stream was deep enough and adequately swift to just drink without a high risk of getting sick. Talk about a refreshing drink! Straight from the ice-cold stream. While it would have been nice to have the peace of mind my filter would have given me, I didn't feel concerned about the water I drank; but I knew that within the next 24 hours I would know for sure if this was a wise choice or not.

Jordan, Geoff, and yours truly from the boardwalk within the geyser basin

The hike on the second day started out with us going through the geyser basin, and it was definitely one of the trip's highlights. I've been to Yellowstone a few times and have seen Old Faithful work her magic time and time again, but there was something different about being in the backcountry with all sorts of bubbling water features - including a geyser that boiled and spewed water about every two minutes. Being all alone with no one else but my hiking companions really drove the uniqueness of Yellowstone home.

Throughout the hike on the second day we were on the lookout for animal life. Whereas on the first day we made plenty of noise (actually too much, in my opinion) in order to ward off any hiding grizzlies, we decided to not make any noise - realizing that scaring off any potential bears was also scaring off everything and anything else that lives and breathes. We saw our first wolf print in the mud, and were pretty excited. I wasn't paying much attention to the marks in the ground up to this point, but started to pay more attention after Geoff and Jordan pointed the print out to me.

Wolf? Cougar? We originally thought that this was a wolf track, but now I'm not too sure. What are your thoughts?

We made very good time, and got to our campsite at around 4:00, but not before being forced to cross through the stream that ran fairly close to our site. If the water wasn't freezing enough to make me lose my balance, the sharp rocks on my bare feet sure was. I was happy we only had about a ten foot section to cross, and was even happier that we found our campsite seconds after getting our shoes back on. Although painful on the feet, the last thing you want is to have to hike in wet boots; unless you want blisters and discomfort for the rest of your trip.

That evening Geoff and I spent an hour or so fishing in the heat, but didn't catch anything. That's the beauty of fly fishing though. I can sit on the bank of a river, casting to the same hole time and time again, and feel completely relaxed even as the sun burns into my skin. It also felt nice to put our 3-day fishing pass to good use, as well as using the extra weight our rods and fishing gear added. If I wouldn't have opened my fly rod case this second day then I wouldn't have noticed the love note my wife slipped into my case! The cool, fresh water may have worked wonders on my beat up body, but this little note did just as much good to my mentality. I worked through several obstacles in my thinking on this second day, and the note only helped that much more.

Although we hoped that the mosquitoes wouldn't find us on this side of the lake, we knew that they would be hunting us down here as well. I decided that the feeling of repellant on my skin, along with two days worth of sweat, wouldn't feel too good when in my bad the second night, and I chose to take a "quick dip" in the stream. I was worried about the freezing water, but soon realized after taking my clothes off that the water was nothing compared to the barrage of mosquitos that decided to use my back (and, uh-hem, back-side) as a landing strip. I tried to beat them away with my clothes, but only had about three or four corpses on my shirt as opposed to the couple dozen bites they gave me. I showed my war-wounds to Geoff when I got back to the tent, and I knew by his laughter that my back looked as bad as it felt. By the way, the water was cold enough to make my legs cramp up for a few seconds after getting back on the bank.

It's hard to describe the difference you can feel when being in the heart of a national park such as Yellowstone as opposed to being with hundreds of other tourists sitting around Old Faithful. Pretty sure that it's for this reason (among many others) that I continue to make plans for such trips. It was only about an hour ago that I added up the miles on the Teton Crest Trail for my next potential trip. I've only been back for a week and I'm already planning next years outing:)
***Really wish I would have taken more photos. I'm regretting not having any photos of the stream we crossed/fished...

Meals:
Breakfast - Granola and Powdered Milk
Lunch - Mountainland Buffalo Style Chicken Wrap (would NOT recommend it...) and tortillas
Dinner - Ramen Noodles (straight from the package) and Jack Links Beef Nuggets
Snacks - Dehydrated (at home)Yogurt/Apples/Bananas and Snickers

Trip Report: Yellowstone Nat. Park - Old Faithful to Lewis Lake; Day 1 of 3

2011-08-21T21:19:00.001-06:00

Where we stopped for lunch on our first day

For about six months now my friend Geoff and I have been planning a trip to Yellowstone National Park. Originally we wanted to head back to the Tetons to experience another amazing trip as I reported on previously, but decided to hit a backcountry neither of us had experienced before. Geoff took the reins and planned a three day trip, scheduled just before we both start another semester at school.

Above is a map of the terrain we covered. We started at the Old Faithful area (tourist central), and ended up wrapping around the Shoshone Lake, and ended at the road next to Lewis Lake. In all we covered approximately 26 miles over three days. I'll be giving this trip report in three segments, one for each day on the trail.

Day 1: Mishaps and learning experiences
The first day started out simple enough. We spent the night before in a campsite inside the park in order to have an early start the next morning, and were able to get to the Ranger's office for our backcountry permit just after 8:00 a.m. Car camping the night before kind of messed with my head as we were still using our backpacks, yet enjoying the comforts (Elk steak cooked over a fire) of camping within a campground. It felt good to finally get on the trail and slowly start the 9 mile hike to our first backcountry site.

Geoff and Jordan pictured where we stopped for lunch the first day.

We ate lunch next to the river pictured at the top of this post, and enjoyed the solitude as we took our time eating and replenishing our water supply. The breeze felt great while sitting next to the water, and Geoff and I were tempted to get our fishing gear out in order to try catching something, but wanted to push forward since we still had plenty of miles to cover.

Geoff invited his brother in-law, Jordan, along with us, and I'm so glad he did. Geoff and I always have a blast, and Jordan only made it that much better. While I'm focused on keeping my pace up with both Jordan and Geoff, Jordan was actually reading and hiking at the same time! That guy cracked me up constantly as he has the type of personality where he is just naturally a funny guy.

Only about a mile into the hike I decided that I was done with my trekking poles (I've actually decided to only use them when snowshoeing from now on) as they seemed more annoying than useful. I think that I've tried to convince myself that I like them more than I do, and was happy to put them on my pack. At some point following lunch, one of the locks on my poles came loose and two of the three sections on one of my poles fell off. Since I was in back most of the hike, there is really no way of knowing when the poles came apart. This was the first mishap of the day...

By the time we got to Shoshone Lake all three of us were ready to be done for the day. We had to backtrack a little as we thought our campsite was on the opposite side of the cove, and when we did find our campsite we were a little surprised to find out that it was a good 200 yards from the actual trail itself. We were happy to see that we would be fairly secluded at our site instead of being right off of the trail (as it was in the Tetons), and appreciated that this is how backcountry sites are in Yellowstone.

We camped at 8R5 this first night after hiking past the OA's campsites.

When we got to our site I volunteered to filter enough water for all of our bottles, and was excited to use my filter again as it had been a couple of years since the last (and first) time I used it. I began pumping and pumping, thinking that it was taking longer than expected to fill up the six liter bladder I bought just for the trip. Frustrated, I screwed the filter on my Nalgene bottle so that I could see how fast it was filtering. I discovered that something serious was wrong with my filter, as it was only filtering a small trickle for every pump, and pushing the rest of the water back down the tube. After spending close to an hour trying to figure out what was wrong with it, I gave up and told Geoff that we would need to use his SteriPen until I could figure out what was wrong with my filter. Geoff whipped out his SteriPen, only to discover that the lithium batteries had failed him, and the pen was not working. Mishaps two and three...

We decided that we would just have to boil our water, even though doing so is inefficient on so many different levels.

Another section of the stream we hiked next to at various times

By the time we started to get our dinners ready the mosquitos were out on the hunt. It didn't take long before hundreds upon hundreds of mosquitos found our campsite, and were determined to make us as miserable as possible as we made dinner. Although I was smart enough to buy a bug net just before the trip, I thought that the little bottle of insect repellant (deet-free so it doesn't ruin your gear) I've had for a couple of years would do the trick. This is when I realized that deet substitutes just don't cut it. Mishap number four...

By the time we crawled into our sleeping bags I was pretty discouraged, and realized that I wasn't thinking right. Why would I get so worked up about my filter when I knew that we would be hiking fairly close to fresh water a few times each day of our trip? Why would I let a few small things mess up my head? This is when I realized a couple of important lessons: one - being with at least one other person in the backcountry will help you get a better perspective when things may go wrong (which Geoff did for me), and two - when fatigued from a long day's hike, it becomes much easier to become discouraged and to stop thinking straight.

What did I learn on this first day? When packing away trekking poles, make sure that all locks are tightly secured, and pack the poles upside down so that even if the locks aren't tight, there is no way that they will come apart. Also, bring a back-up filter cartridge and/or batteries for water - you can go weeks without food, but water is essential. Finally, when wanting to lighten the amount of weight you will be carrying on a backpacking trip, better forget leaving essential items at home, assuming that you wont need them (extra bug spray and, again, a way to filter your water).

I didn't take too many photos on this first day. Plenty more photos to come for days 2 and 3 though!

Meals for Day One:
Breakfast - Powdered Milk with Granola
Lunch - Mountain House Chicken Salad with tortillas
Dinner - Homemade spaghetti sauce (frozen, then thawed while on the trail) with Ramen Noodles.
Snacks - Snickers, dehydrated fruit rolls (actually yogurt that I dehydrated at home)
**As a side note, there is a quick fix to my filter, I was just too dumb to pay attention to the instructions when at home...and chose to foolishly leave the instructions behind.

Website Review: Gear Junkie

2011-08-10T21:30:00.002-06:00

I've been following Gear Junkie's blog for several months now, and recently "Like'd" them on Facebook. Soon after adding them on Facebook I saw that they were having a contest to win these awesome camp shoes pictured below. What are camp shoes? When backpacking for miles and miles, it feels good to get out of your hiking boots to let your feet dry out, air out, and just take a break while walking around your campsite. Camp shoes don't need to be constructed like regular shoes because they are only worn for short distances around your campsite, so it would make sense for them to weigh close to nothing right? It may seem that way, but with the exception of wearing (in my opinion) some hideous Crocs or flip-flops, lightweight camp shoes are hard to come by. I digress...this post is about Gear Junkie....

How did I win these awesome camp shoes that actually zip up, making the shoe small AND compact? Below is my answer to how Chuck Norris would use this shoe.

Needless to say, I was pretty excited that my Chuck Norris knowledge finally paid off after all of these years:)

Go to Gear Junkie and check out the website. These guys have a very impressive list of gear reviews for biking, running, camping, climbing/mountaineering, food/hydration, women's gear, footwear, clothing, skiing/winter, biking, technology, ultra-sports, backpacks, boat/water, and misc. Seems like a lot of those categories overlap a little, but it makes more sense as you browse through each category.

"Like" them on facebook here and check out their blog here. I am a supporter of any site which makes finding quality outdoors gear easier, and can tell that these guys know what they are talking about.

In closing, I have a few questions. Have I ever won ANYTHING in my life? No. Was I excited to win this contest? Yes. Have I received the shoes yet? Nope... I sent them an e-mail a couple of weeks ago, asking if I would have the shoes in time for my trip to Yellowstone which is now only a week away, but haven't heard back yet...

In a couple of weeks I should have a trip review of me backpacking in Yellowstone. Can't wait!!!!

TV Show Review: Expedition Impossible

2011-07-24T21:11:00.000-06:00

When I first heard of Expedition Impossible I thought "oh great, another 'reality' TV show that tries to imitate how to rough-it," but after a good friend told me that I should try-out to be on this show next season, I figured that I should probably give it a shot.

I have been pleasantly surprised so far. The season starts out with thirteen teams of three's ranging from sisters to co-workers and friends, each making an attempt at winning $50K and a new Ford Explorer. If a team crosses the finish line last, then they are eliminated. The team to cross the tenth finish line first will win the money and SUV.

While at first glance it looks like another "Amazing Race," it is geared towards outdoor adventure instead of just racing through busy cities. So far teams have faced hiking up sand dunes, riding camels, paddling inflatable canoes, riding arabian horses, building and paddling rafts, using para-cord from survival bracelets, sleeping at an alpine base camp in freezing temps, rappelling, and miles upon miles of hiking. Although they don't hike more than 10 miles in one day, the challenges are enough to take seriously.

Although everyone competing are from everyday walks of life, on Team - No Limits is the famous mountaineer Erik Weihenmayer - the blind guy who summited Everest in 2001. I would be surprised if the producers didn't approach him to be on the show instead of the other way around. Seeing him on the commercials for the show is also another push I had to actually watch. Yes, he does have two companions helping him along the way, but he definitely has a disadvantage (ever tried riding a camel or horse blind?). In addition, this team brings real experience to the show. Erik was the only one I saw wearing gaiters during the trek through the sand dunes, and you can tell that these guys know what they are doing.

Will I try-out? I think that it would be a fun month-long adventure, but am not sure that splitting $50K and a new Expedition would be worth the hassel of rearranging my grad school schedule and finals. If the winnings were to be more like $50K for each team member I would really consider it.

The bottom line - I definitely recommend that anyone who enjoys the outdoors watch this show. There are several mistakes made that everyone can learn from if they are looking for them: one girl gets in a hurry and decides to not put her socks on for the last couple of miles and ends up with blisters painful enough for her to get some extra attention from the host; Eriks companions get rushed and leave him at the top of a winding staircase, thinking that they can do the challenge while he waits; one of the "Country Boys" has real difficulty hiking up hills - completely hindering his teams ability to push for first place; and several teams struggle in the cold to effectively use their para-cord to hook when all they needed to do was warm up their hands, think for a second, and take their time throwing the cord.

Check it out anytime on Hulu or watch it every Thursday at 9/8c on ABC.

Gear Review: SPOT Connect

2011-06-26T21:04:00.000-06:00

A specific piece of equipment has been catching my eye for at least the last three issues of Backpacker Magazine (funny/pathetic how their advertising gets me every time...). I have wanted a SPOT locator beacon for a couple of years now, but due to my current financial situation as a student, it is one of those many pieces of technology that will need to wait until after I'm done with school. When I saw the advertisement for the SPOT Connect I thought that I had found a better alternative that would give me an even greater justification to purchase such a devise following my graduation, but I'll let you decide which of these two devices is superior.

SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger
For a basic overview of what the SPOT beacon does, check out this post I wrote several months ago. The SPOT beacon is a small hand-held device which allows you to "check in" anywhere in the world (as long as the beacon has a signal from the satellite - caves and many slot-canyons don't). You pay for the device (about $80-150 according to the search I just did on-line), and then pay for the yearly service plan (basic is $100, and goes up from there). You have the ability to check in with loved ones through the SPOT tracker website, send "custom" messages via e-mail (have to set this up with a computer before your trip), inform your contacts at home that you need non-emergency assistance, and then you can also use the SOS button in case of a real emergency.

The Cost: Unit + yearly subscription = two charges. Depending on how many features you want to have access to, the subscription cost goes up. Only one-way communication if this is the only form of communication you have. Even if you are where you would have a cell signal, you won't be able to talk to anyone or text anyone unless you have your cell phone with you.

The Benefit: A peace of mind for your loved ones while you are in no-mans land, and a peace of mind for yourself if you were to be in a sticky situation.

SOS x 2: Cell phone has the SOS button, but the Connect has a button on the side as well, meaning that even if you lose your smart phone or it's charge dies, you still have a way out of whatever dire situation you find yourself in.

SPOT Connect
The biggest difference between the Connect and the Messenger above is an ability to customize your e-mails that you are sending home (also send a customized message along with your SOS so the authorities know what they are dealing with), as well as an ability to send text messages and to update your Twitter/Facebook status. Due to the fact that you are using a secondary device, you have more options and abilities. At this point you can use an iPhone, iPod Touch (HUGE surprise to me when I found out about this), or an Android with a 2.0 or newer platform. You have the ability to use every feature that the Messenger has, but much more. Right now the Connect device is roughly $150, and, just like the Messenger, you have a yearly subscription fee ($99) which will cost more depending on how many texts/e-mails you would like to send.

The video below is very informative, and quite amusing. I don't know who the guys are doing the interview, but the SPOT rep knows what he is talking about (for the most part). Be sure to pay attention to what he says about sending a customized SOS message. I'm not sure if he is being serious or ironic, but it's entertaining nonetheless.

Costs: Instead of only taking one device to use as an SOS when the poop hits the fan, you have to have the Connect AND your iPod/iPhone. If one of the batteries dies on either of these devices, there is no point in having the second one - unless, of course, you have a cell phone signal and can just call out. In addition to having to care for two devices, you are also taking more weight (a minimal 4.5 oz for the Connect) and more space being taken up in your pack. The pictures on-line are deceiving in my opinion. At first glance I thought it was a flat device, but it's not. It is still smaller than a smart phone, but is probably two or three times thicker.

Benefits: All the same features as the Messenger, only much better. If you are able to send a customized message along with your SOS ping, the authorities will know if they are dealing with a broken leg, someone who has fallen in a tough to reach location, or you are being eaten by a bear (which is what the rep said in the video...hahaha, "help me, the bear is almost to my organs as he has already exposed my rips and is working his way through my gluteus maximus"). Having two devices means you have twice the opportunity to get help and send status updates. If you have a cell phone signal on the trail then you can call whoever you want, if you don't then you can just use the Connect features. Almost like having a security blanket on the trail:)

Here is the promo video from SPOT. Although a little cheesy, it's still pretty informative. Does a good job of showing that this device is not just for your backcountry adventures.

The Bottom Line: Although the main purpose for me purchasing either the Connect or the Messenger is for my backcountry activities, they would both be very useful for road trips and really any possible situation. I feel that the Connect offers much more than the Messenger, and will hopefully be an owner of the Connect one day. The up-front cost of the device is a little steep (as with the Messenger), but the yearly subscription ends up costing less than most data plans for smart phones when divided between twelve months.

Here are a few reviews to read if you are interested: One, Two, and Three.

Outdoors Essentials??? Multi-Function Watches

2011-05-22T21:00:00.000-06:00

For couple of years now I have lusted after an image found in every issue of Backpacker magazine. Every time I would open my latest issue, I knew that I would eventually come across the same advertisement for the same watch that fascinated my adventerous side, and this is what I would see...

The latest Casio Pathfinder is solar powered (which will last 5 months after being fully charged), includes an altimeter, barometer, thermometer, digital compass, and every other typical digital watch feature (alarms, timers, ect) only done better. For an MSRP of $450, this is a watch that any outdoorsman would lust after. Here is the point of this post though: Should a multifunction watch be included on the "outdoors essentials" list?

My logic in even wanting a watch such as the Pathfinder is the pure convenience of having so much useful information strapped to my wrist when in the backcountry. An altimeter (when correctly and frequently calibrated correctly) would give more accurate directions/locations when using a topo map, a barometer can be useful when trying to predict the weather (if you know how to use it), the digital compass would be convenient when wanting a quick reference for the direction you are traveling (although not the most accurate when compared to a mirrored compass like the one I use), and the solar power charge means that you are set when it comes to power (no having to worry about your battery losing its life in the middle of a trip [you should switch out your battery more frequently than required for this exact reason]).

In addition to the expensive features are the typical alarms and stopwatch - both would be very useful when on the trail. I still remember camping with a bunch of neighborhood friends a couple of years ago. They all had to leave right after breakfast the next morning, so I knew that I would need to get up at a decent hour in order to see them before they all took off. I woke up to the sun hitting the corner of my tent, and had an eery feeling that I was all alone although I went to bed with five tents surrounding me the night before. It was only 8 in the morning, but everyone was already gone! I felt like the crazy drunk uncle who everyone wants to avoid the morning after a night in the woods. I thought that I was getting up early enough, but only had the sun to wake me up. For this reason (and the fact that I typically want to get an early start on the trail when backpacking) an alarm on my watch would be perfect. No extra weight, very small, and conveniently located on your wrist whenever you need it.

The thermometer would also be very useful when backpacking/camping. I can't recall how many times I have woken up to a freezing face in the middle of the night, wondering if it was really below freezing, or if I was just a wimp. Having this feature on my watch would allow me to see how cold it really is at night so that I can see if my sleeping bag's temperature rating is more liberal than it should be (although I'll admit that there are small thermometers that are dirt cheap and very light/small which would be just as effective).

The downside? Price. How could a starving grad-student possibly afford a wrist watch that costs more than $300? Although there are other Pathfinder watches that are much cheaper to be found ($200 on REI), it's still an expensive watch. The solution? I was walking through REI when I saw a watch for $60. It was also a Casio brand, also had an altimeter/barometer/thermometer, and was pretty good looking. I don't know whether I will really use all the extra/expensive features on the Pathfinder, so why not buy a cheaper watch to see if the Pathfinder is really worth the money or not? Here is the watch that I found and later bought.

The bottom line: I wouldn't put multi-function watches on the "outdoors essentials" list. It is a fun and convenient extra gadget to wear around, but not necessary by any means. I will say, however, that any type of watch DOES belong on the list. Remember 127 Hours? Each and every one of those hours were counted by Aron Ralston while stuck in the slot canyon. Knowing what time it is may very well be the one thing that makes the difference between keeping one's sanity, and losing one's mind. Aron rationed out his water in order to make it last as long as possible. There was no way he could have kept track of time if he wouldn't have had a watch on him (high canyon walls and only a small window of direct sunlight would have made it impossible to tell the time). Some in hostage situations have also said that knowing what time it was made a huge difference (knowing the time of day gives one a small sense of being in control).

I know that I focused on the Pathfinder by Casio, but Suunto is also a very good watch, and may be more used by professional mountaineers than the Pathfinder is. As a side note, both the Suunto and the Pathfinder are BIG watches. If you prefer the more conservative, low-profile watch, these multi-watches may not be fore you.

A Few Amazing Videos

2011-04-24T21:30:00.000-06:00

Yes, I'm taking the easy route by sharing a few videos instead of writing a real post. My finals are coming to an end, and I should, in theory, be able to get back to my regular "weekly" posting within the next couple of weeks.

I saw this first video a couple of weeks ago. It took place all the way back in 2008, so I'm obviously not a rock climber. Seeing this video, in addition to the other videos in this post, makes me want to lose the 20 lbs I put on after getting married so that I can take on this physically demanding sport (although my love for backpacking will always be #1).

This second video features Ueli Steck and the same climber from the first video. Ueli (again, only recently discovered this video) is AMAZING. I had no idea that speed climbers even existed! What this guy does impresses me more than I can express. Hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people world-wide train for marathons each year, thousands also train for long bike rides, triathlons, swim meets, and many other sports which require absolute dedication, but what Ueli does is, by far, the most dangerous sport by far. Running up a mountain without ropes??? Crazy...

This last video shows Ueli breaking his own speed climbing record on the north face of Eiger. Don't know what Eiger is? Check it out here. Why the north face? The north face of mountains in the northern hemisphere is usually known as being the most difficult to summit (which is also probably why "The North Face" clothing line is called what it is). Watch this last video and be amazed.

If those videos aren't enough to inspire you, I have no idea what would:)