Out and Back Again

Camping With Kids: What's The Big Deal?

2013-11-04T16:15:00.000-08:00

As I cruse the internets in search of new gear or new ideas to make trips to the woods better I continually find articles on how to make camping with kids easier. A lot of these come from Pinterest. Don't get me wrong, I love the 'Outdoors' board on Pinterest. I will also admit that there are many people that aren't as into camping as I am. However that is part of the problem I have with these blogs and sites that have tips for camping with kids.

My first born on his first camping trip at 4 months old.
He loved it then, and loves it more now.

You shouldn't need tips for taking your kids outside. Just get them out there. Sometimes you might struggle. Trust that your kids are going to get dirty, wet, and maybe cold. However, they are going to love it. You will learn what they like about it and or don't. You will figure out your own tips for making future trips successful. Otherwise all you are doing is making your trip to the outdoors feel more and more like being indoors.
I don't have any tips for taking your kids camping. I would suggest, however, that you start taking your kids with you as soon as possible.

My son camping this summer. He loves having his own gear.

I have an old friend that went camping for the first time with his kids last summer. They were 3 and 1-1/2 years old. Some might think that is pretty young to take children out into the woods. However his kids hated it. His infant son cried the entire time, just for being outside. It got so bad that he eventually packed everything up and headed to a hotel. Once indoors his son calmed down and they could finish their family trip in relative peace.
Knowing that I go camping a lot he asked what I could suggest to help him for next time. All I suggested was getting his kids out more. If an infant is already trained to feel uncomfortable in the outdoors then why would that get better with out more and more conditioning to the outdoors.
So, don't wait to go out with your kids. Don't hesitate to treat them to the medicine of our crazy world. Take your kid out into the fresh pine scented air as soon as their lungs are strong enough to breath it.

Gear Review: REI's Camp Pack-N-Prep Tote/Table

2013-04-07T09:50:00.001-07:00

I have been mulling over the thought of making a chuck box. A box, usually made of plywood, that stores most of your camping gear in one place. These make it easier to store, organize, and carry your smaller items to and from the campground. A chuck box also makes life easier in camp by placing everything you need right at your finger tips. Unfortunately I had a few problems with the idea of a chuck box. First, they are, or can be, heavy. Second, I don't have the tools or space to make one in my current living situation. Third, unless you make legs, making it even heavier, you need a table to set it on to make it effective in camp. Finally, they are usually pretty darn bulky.
The solution? The REI Camp Pack-N-Prep Tote/Table (yes this is the actually name, not just a description). The name does kind of say it all though doesn't it?

The stove itself doesn't fit into the tote with
all the other gear, but that doesn't bother me much.

You have a cooler sized bag, connected to a frame, with multiple pockets, and a table attachment. It comes with a divider for the main section, that turns into a hanging utensil pouch when the table is set up. There are three colored bags that fit into the main compartment for easy division and storage of smaller items. A paper towel rack, in table mode, allows for easy access for clean ups. On one side of the bag there is an external water resistant pouch that hold a small dish washing bag. Two other external pouches hold more gear, and the fourth pouch on the back holds the table top components. A video on the REI website shows all these features and how they are used.

All packed up and ready.

The pictures below show what I have been able to fit into the bag. All this gear was held in three different bags or buckets before getting this REI Tote. Filled to the brim it is no heavier than a cooler full of food, and the frame keeps it nice and sturdy. The table accommodates our Coleman camp stove and, though not pictured, there is even room for the fuel canister to rest on the side.

All this gear used to be in three different places,
now it is all together and ready in a flash.

This new equipment is going to allow us to go camping with the piece of mind that we have everything we need. Our car trunk will be filled with this tote, our cooler, stove, bags of clothes, Rubbermaid tote full of sleeping bags, tent, and tarps. We are good to go in 5 minutes if we wanted. Even without having the chance to use the tote in the field yet, I know this new piece of camp kit is going to make our trips into the woods much easier and more enjoyable. Thank you REI.

Cost: $129.00

Find at: REI.com (free shipping for items over $50 if you are an REI member)

Trail report: Mailbox Peak

2013-04-06T09:32:00.002-07:00

A few months ago I posted about being in a new place and having new chances to explore. Well, since that time I haven't spent any time on any trails in my new location of North Western Idaho. All my hikes have been best West of the Cascades closer to my hometown of Renton, WA.

This zoomed in picture of my brother, climbing a snow covered
rock field, does not do justice to the steep grade.

This hike near North Bend, WA. has been on the bucket list of day hikes for a while. It is often talked about by family and friends, but no one had seemed to have tackled it yet. When I told my brother I was coming home for the weekend and wanted to hit up a trail we chose this one. Not sure if I was up for a hike, that I heard was the killer of killer hikes, I got onto the Washington Trails Association website to really see what I was getting myself into. The reviews all made comment of the fast elevation gain, from 820 feet to 4,841 feet in 2.5 miles. Some resent posts warned of ice and snow on the trail that could cause a dangerous situation. Others praised the novelty of the mailbox at the summit and the great view that makes the strenuous climb well worth it.

At the summit.

All expectations were met. It was a hard climb to the top. An even rougher climb down (imagine leg muscles burning while climbing, well leg joints were crashing for the reverse route). The mailbox was present. Snow and ice near the top made for a slow going and slippery ascent and and even more dangerous descent. However, all that was almost forgotten while sitting at the summit. The views were amazing. The clouds hung out just above the peaks of the central cascades. The 360 degree views were inspiring. This is probably the most western peak in the Snoqualmie area that allows for such great views in all directions. From Seattle and beyond to the peaks surrounding Snoqualmie Pass (and Rainier on a clear day), you can pick out land marks from all over the Puget Sound region.

I highly recommend this hike. There is a new "easier" trail being put in that will be 5 miles to the summit. So if you don't feel up to the challenge of this classic Seattle area route, then just wait a couple months for the new trail to open.

Difficulty: Extreme
Fees: Discovery Pass required
Directions: See the Washington Trails Association website for more details on the trail and directions.

Tiger Mountain West

2013-03-15T08:41:00.001-07:00

Another weekend back home in the Seattle area made for another opportunity to hike a local hill. Last Saturday morning I went out with my father and brother to hike Tiger Mountain. Due to time constraints and other obligations we decided on a short trail that would lead to a decent view spot for the effort put in.
We drove I-90 east to the High Point exit. After the exit turn right, and then turn right again to the road with trail access. There is a parking lot past the gate that is managed by the state (Discovery Pass required). We parked just in front of the gate at an unmarked trail head. There is parking along the road and even at 6:30 am there were a dozen cars lined up. Some park here so they don't have to pay, and they use the maintained trails. We wanted to use the un-maintained Power Line Trail. It is a more direct route with a faster elevation gain.

In ten years or less this hike won't have a view.

Because the trail is un-managed it was pretty muddy. I expected that for this time of year. Once we got towards the top of Tiger Mountain West there was some older snow that hadn't completely melted away yet. Even with these minor obstacles we were up and down in about two hours, with some rest at the top. Something that has become disappointing about this hike is the fact that the view from this look out is disappearing. Trees are growing too tall to see anything from the bald destination of this trail.

Olympic Mountains to the West.

This hike is great because you get about 2,000 feet of elevation gain at around two miles of distance, with a consistent grade. As conditioning hikes go this is one of the best around. It is short enough to do before work, especially with long Summer days. Even on early Summer morning you are going to be pressed to find a parking spot that doesn't extend your hike and extra half a mile. Although this specific trail is less traveled compared to others in the Tiger Mountain circuit, it is still very popular and very active. So plan accordingly.

Trail Report: Mt. Si

2013-01-24T16:42:00.000-08:00

Way back in May of 2012, I went on a hike on Mt. Si. My father and brother had invited me to come along. This was a great early season hike of one of the most popular climbs in the area. Only about 20 minutes from downtown Seattle, this trail gets a lot of traffic. Even on a wet Spring day like the one we experienced there were dozens of people, some with children or dogs, on the trail.
The trick to skipping, or at least avoiding, the crowds is to use the "Old Si" trail. The old way of climbing the 3100 feet is no longer maintained, and therefore used much less. This route is also a much more direct route to the top, there are fewer switchbacks, and therefore a steeper grade. Still, it is clear by the wide berth of the trail that there is still plenty of foot traffic. You can even see the trail on Google Maps, displayed in "terrain" view.

Dad taking in the view. To get to the tippy top you have to climb
"The Haystack". It was too icy this day to attempt.

The trail is so much more extreme that my brother, almost from the get go, decided he wasn't going to be able to complete the four mile trip to the top. Fortunately the trail head for the old route is also the starting point for Little Si, a 2.5 mile trip to the top of an out cropped part of the mountain that tops out at 1,200 feet. So, my brother took on that challenge while we continued on. Once at the top we contacted my brother and informed him we were going to descend by the "new" trail. He had to bring the car over to the other lot to pick us up. However it did make the way down a little less monotonous and easier on the knees.
Mt. Si is so popular because it gives a great challenge with little distance from home. It is also used for mountaineers as a training hill for climbs up Mt. Rainier and other Cascade peaks. Anyone in the area should limb Mt. Si at least once, if for no other reason than to say you have done it (try to get up on a clear day to see to Seattle and beyond). Be cautious though, there will be many other people accompanying you.

View Mt. Si in a larger map
Please excuse the GPS lines, they got a little off track in the trees.

Sierra Designs Zissou Lite & Sawyer Push Filter: First Look

2012-10-11T22:49:00.002-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I took some items back to REI, taking advantage of their 100% satisfaction guarantee. This allowed me to replace some gear I have been wanting to upgrade for a while.
In the field my SteriPen turned out not to be a great option. It drained batteries on my Yellowstone trip and my back ups weren't lithium (must have lithium batteries to work a SteriPen). Admittadly it may have been defective most reviews of the unit are good and note that the batteries last for multiple days with many uses. I also want to stray from using water bottles on long trips, and a SteriPen won't really work in a bladder. So, my solution was the Sawyer Squeeze Filter. (I am going to note here that the SteriPen is a water purification unit, meaning it kills bacteria and viruses, and the Sawyer filter only filters bacteria).

The Sawyer Squeeze Filter is a smaller, lighter (3oz.) option. It comes with bags that you fill up with water and then roll up, forcing the water through the filter and into your water container. It also screw to most plastic water bottles and has adapters that allow you to create an inline filter right in your bladder tube (more on this in a later post). One of the best parts about the filter is that it is rated to last for 1 million gallons, when back filtered on a regular basis. That is a lot of use out of a little piece of gear at a not very expensive price. With it's size I will probably carry this filter on day hikes and not bother carrying more water than I need. The efficiency of the filter and its small size allow it to go in any of my packs.

My second piece of gear is a new sleeping bag. I chose the new Sierra Designs Zissou 30 Lite. This is my first down bag. I chose down because in general it is lighter and compresses better than synthetic substitutes. My former bag was the REI Zenith 0 (no longer made or sold). This new bag is almost 2 lbs lighter and compresses to less than half the size of the old bag. So the upgrade in size and weight are substantial. The real reason I chose this bag was for its new innovative down treatment that Sierra Designs calls DriDown. You can visit their website for the specifics, but DriDown basically means the down has been treated with a water resistant coating. So in the moist environments of the Northwest I will stay warm if it rains or snows and I get a little water on my bag.
My first impression of the bag is that it is going to be great. Just trying it on in the living room I started to get over heated after only 30 seconds. If I need to use it in below freezing weather I plan on buying a bag liner to at extra warmth. The shell is made of a very soft nylon. It almost feels like silk against the skin. I also like the fit. There is plenty of room in the knees, hips, and shoulders to roll around and get comfortable in any position. The mummy hood also tightens up perfectly around the eyes and mouth. My last bag tightened over my mouth and I always had a cold damp lip on my bag when I woke up.
It is my hope that both these new pieces of kit will treat me well for many years to come. I'll be sure to let you know how they perform in the field.

New Place = New Opportunities

2012-08-22T13:03:00.001-07:00

Well I have moved again. This time I am back in Idaho. Moscow Idaho is on the Western border of the state, near Pullman Washington. Northern Idaho has many outdoor opportunities that I looking forward to exploring. I have been talking with locals, finding places to fish, hike, and camp. There seem to be plenty of great places in the area and beyond. I am excited for new exploration and hope to get out as much as possible, even with a busy schedule.
View Moscow, ID in a larger map

Rainier's Grand Park

2012-08-06T18:37:00.000-07:00

Glacier Lillies hiding in the shaded areas
just as you open up into Grand Park.

Did you know that inside this national park there are multiple smaller parks? There are. Next time you look at the park's map look out for areas like"Spray Park" and "Grand Park", among others. These areas of the park are usually flat or rolling hills with few trees. This time of year these fields are blanketed with wild flowers. They allow for great views of the mountain itself, while giving you the feeling of being out away from it all. Most of the areas require some hiking, but it is worth it. You will skip the hordes of tourists at Paradise and at the same time enjoy the magic one feels in the back country of a national park.

360 degrees atop Grand Park

I started my trip late in the morning just outside the national park. Forest Service Road 7300, off of Highway 410, takes you just North, about 100 yards, of the park's boarder. There is a trail at Eleanor Creek that leads into the park and to Lake Eleanor. This is a great location to swim on hot summer days. The lake looked very clean and cool, especially for being relatively low in elevation. If you continue on, as you should, to Grand park you will first come to a small meadow that gives you a small taste of what you are in for. Then the only really challenging part of the hike climes up to the park. All of a sudden you turn a corner out of the thinning trees and BAM, the most beautiful view of any mountain you have ever laid eyes on. Grand Park is unique in that it is a large flat plateau, sitting at 5,600 ft. There are drop offs on all sides leaving straight through shots to the mountain, almost directly south. Other areas of the park have dips with little hiding places for snow. Up on Grand I had the impression I was in a high dessert. It's openness flat terrain doesn't allow for much vegetation. There are only two stagnant pools of water on the butte. So, besides the flowers and pine trees you really aren't going to find much up there. However, I would built my house here if I could. Hiking in supplies would be worth having a porch with this view.

270 degrees from newly discovered viewpoint

After spending some time taking pictures and looking around at some other landmarks in view we (my father in law was with me) were about to turn back for the car. Luckily there were a couple of men that told us of a viewpoint not far down the Wonderland Trail. After continuing to the southern end of Grand Park we turned right (West) and hiked another quarter of a mile. the view here was even better than the one from above. With the Winthrop Glacier right in front of us we could see the entire mountain as we stopped for lunch. As we made our hike back to the car we informed others of the view, and they were excited to know about it.
This was my third hike in the North of the Mt. Rainier National Park. All three have been my favorites.

The Best Gear?

2012-03-27T09:34:00.000-07:00

PSP Progression

In Western world that thrives on consumerism we are bombarded (almost every minute) with ads for the next best thing. A new iPad just came out and if you had one of the old ones you had to have the new one right? What about the new PSP Vita, "it is so much better than the last model". Well This kind of thinking doesn't escape the world of camping or backpacking either.

"Why do people like this sport?"

There are a few people making new products for consumers. They are trying their best to improve products through new technologies and practices. Nothing wrong with that. Our civilization would be nowhere without people trying to improve what we have out there. I mean NASCAR would be even more boring if they were still racing cars from the 20's.
Then there are even fewer people telling which of these new products to buy. They feed us something like, "it is .02 ounces lighter, therefore worth the extra $75 vs. the other one you are looking at". There is a little wrong with this, and I can illustrate how.

I recently rediscovered a Stansport brand tent I had purchased when I was in Boy Scouts. I bought it with my paper route money and used it for many years, never having any problems. I think I spent about $90 at a store that sells everything (but not W-Mart). At some point it disappeared. I went looking for it in my parents garage one time and no one knew where it had gone. Then the other day I was visiting and was taking quick stock of the gear my dad had held onto. There it was, the tent, in it's torn blue stuff sack. It was on the shelf right were I had left it about 10 years earlier. I grabbed it, and threw it in the truck. When I got it home I did a rapid set up (I could still set that thing up in the dark if I had to), just to take inventory to make sure all the pieces were present. It was a little faded and smelled a little musky (dew to my little brother not airing it out properly after using a couple weeks back), but was in great shape. I'm going to give it a good washing in Nikwax brand detergent to add some water proofing and it will probably be better than new.

So the point to the story is the so called "best" gear isn't always the best gear. I want to make it clear that I don't blame companies producing gear for their prices. They have the right to price items any way they feel they need to (and in most cases I feel they are completely justified in their pricing models). I will just be a little more weary of what I read in magazines and on certain websites about some of the stuff that is out there. When I buy a high priced item I truly expect it to last 20+ years, however, this teal blue tent is making me think twice about how I make purchases.

Mediocre minds think alike: visit mountainmanami.blogspot.com for a similar article on elitism in the outdoor sporting community.

Trail Report: Rattlesnake Mountain

2012-03-26T11:24:00.000-07:00

Rattlesnake Mountain is and has been a very popular trail for years. I had never heard of it before moving back to Washington a few months ago. Even learning of a new trail that was close by I wasn't too excited about hiking on it. My in-laws used to hike to the ledge quite a bit, they are actually how I first heard of the trail. Then my father wanted to hike the last of the Issaquah Alps and this was it. He had gone a couple of weeks earlier, with my brother, and hiked to the first ledge. They started at Rattlesnake Lake on the South end of the trail. This is where most people hike, including my in-laws. It is no surprise why, the three ledges that protrude out of the side of the mountain offer great views of the upper Snoqualmie Valley. On a clear day you can see all the way to Mt. Baker to the North.
So, I got excited about this trail and headed out on a Saturday morning with my dad. We decided it would be more worth while to through hike the trail. Starting at one end, leaving a car, then driving to the other end to start the hike. We would have to drive back to the second car at the end of the trip, however keeps the trail fresh all the way through. It can be pretty rare to hike a through trail on a day hike. There are many routes on Tiger Mountain and Cougar that allow for through hikes, those mountains have a spider web of trails on them though. Rattlesnake has one trail, so you can hike to a point and then hike back or you can through hike. We decided to start at the North end of the trail. There is a very nice trail head parking lot and rest room right off of the freeway. My car was left at Rattlesnake Lake for the return.
We started on the trail and were making pretty good progress. It was at about a mile in that I realized I had left my car keys in my dads vehicle. If I hadn't checked my pocket for my keys before getting to my car we would have had to hike back, call for more keys, or hitch hike to the car at the other end of the trail. So, we turned around and went back to the starting point. It added 2 extra miles to our 10 mile trail. Surprisingly though didn't add much time to the planned duration of the hike.
The trail itself is pretty. Starting at the northern trail head you walk in and out of some logged out sections of forest. Then under some power lines, and back into the dense forest. Being a winter hike (February) we hit some snow at around 2,100 ft. It was this time we came to a look out that sees over the towns of North Bend and Snoqualmie. The snow was crusted over on the top layers, making for a slick route. We practically post holed our way to the 2,100 ft. mark on the decent. Also, at about this elevation the clouds rolled in and things started to get very cold. We moved fast to stay warm, but had to put on hats, gloves, and rain jackets to stay warm and dry. While under the conifer umbrella above us we kept good pace in the snow. At the summit we didn't get the view we wanted. Because the snow was so deep (and so few people had been on the trail in the snow) we didn't find our way to the true summit. However the radio towers at the top were close enough for us.
The trek down is continues through the trees, I thought thicker on the south eastern face. This is the side of the mountain that gets the most foot traffic. The views are better and quicker. We did come across a few people as we descended, in contrast to being alone on out ascent.
I would recommend this trail for families that want to spend a day on the trail, but expect a lot of traffic in the spring to summer months.

View Rattlesnake Mountain in a larger map

Difficulty: Moderate

Fees: None if you park at the Southeast trail head at Rattlesnake Lake. Discovery Pass at the Northern trail head.

DIY: Pocket Stove Wind Screen

2012-03-03T09:36:00.000-08:00

There are many DIY projects out there that can improve the comfort and function of your camp. Last summer when in the Yellowstone backcountry for three days I ran out of fuel near the last night. The only form of water purification we had been using was to boil our water, this was due to filter failures. It would have been great if there was a way to keep our one large can of fuel going for an extra few minutes of burn time.
My idea isn't a new one. The product isn't a new one. However I have decided a few ounces of foil tape ($3.50 at local hardware store) are a small price to pay for increased fuel efficiency on my stove. The idea is that the screen blocks wind from blowing the concentrated flame off your pot or pan. Thus allowing more heat where it is meant, under the pot and on your food or water.
To construct the wind screen I used one roll of reflective tape found in the roofing section of the hardware store. I started by measuring the diameter I needed cut pieces to length. I then stacked the pieces over lapping about 1/4". This created a one layered flat large piece of tape (at this point one side is exposed adhesive). I then cut the same amount of pieces and put them (adhesive side) down on the existing piece. This gave me a double thick piece of foil. For reinforcement there is an extra piece folded over the top and bottom. I then connected the ends with about an inch of over lap and taped then all the way around. As you can see the height of the wind block is just higher than the stove, allowing you to monitor the flame, but still keeps the majority of wind out. It also allows for venting air.
Now you won't want to forget about the adjustment on the side of the stove. I chose the location for this after building the screen so that I would get a perfect height for the hole. My hole is two inches in diameter, allowing for a thumb and finger in to turn the handle. When using the stove with the screen you will want to keep this hole down wind.
So if you have a simple stove and want to save yourself $15+ this a great project that only takes a few minutes of your time. The screen can fold up into your bear can or mess kit and should last a while, depending on how careful you are with it.

Trail Report: Pinnacle Peak

2012-02-08T18:31:00.000-08:00

Monday I didn't have any work and the weather in Western Washington was amazing. 60+ degrees for a week in February doesn't happen very often. I had one day to use the good fortune, that was spread through out the region, on a trail. I was looking for something fairly short and simple. Nothing too taxing or very secluded (my wife doesn't like me hiking alone). So to make my decision easier I jumped onto the King County Natural Resources and Parks site and started looking for trails. I had done the Cougar Mountain trail and have done other trails on that hill, it didn't really interest me. I found one in Enumclaw. It promised views of Mt. Rainier on the site so I decided it would be worth the drive to get there. The location was a bit farther than I wanted but the trail seemed to intrigue me. It is a short trail, only about a mile, but it is strenuous.

From the pull off at the side of the road, were a dozen or more cars were parked, you start up on switch backs. The climb is 1,000ft. in a mile. I didn't drink enough water that morning, and started cramping, but was glad to have the work out. Being the day after the Super Bowl I was also blaming all the junk food I had eaten the day before. However, the weather was perfect, and the trail is almost completely covered by the canopy of old Fir and Cedar trees, meaning shade. While the work out was worth it, the view was not. If there ever was a view it is now obstructed by too many trees growing too tall. You get glimpses of the valley floor as you climb but the summit has no view at all.

Though it made for a safe location to 'solo hike' (I use the term loosely), I don't see any reason for me to return. If I lived within 5 miles of the hill that sticks up out of the valley like a thumb I would hike it all the time. I don't, and therefore I won't.

View Pinnacle Peak, Enumclaw Wa in a larger map

Directions: Use the map for directions, However there are two trail heads. The second is on the south side of the hill that starts up a private road.

Fees: None, this one is a county park.

Difficulty Moderate-Difficult (however short)

Two Summits One Day: Cougar and Squak Mountains

2012-01-13T10:10:00.000-08:00

Thursday I went out with my father, Dale, and my brother, Gregg. We wanted to tackle two of the smaller peaks near our homes. Growing up less than five minutes from these hills and never took the time to summit on either one. There are many trails on both mountains, and one could spent all day exploring. Gregg even improved sections of trail on Squak for his Eagle Project.

The two peaks are only separated by the narrow May Creek Valley, that has State Route 900 running through it, connecting Renton and Issaquah. Since the hills are very close together (there is actually a connector trail you can take to hike on both mountains with out getting back in the car if you want, we didn't take the connector) it is very easy to summit both in just a long morning. We started at the trailhead of Cougar Mountain at 8:30 and finished around 11:30 back at the car after summiting Squak.

Cougar Mountain
We chose to start at the Wilderness Creek Trailhead. It is located on SR 900. The trail allows two great options for a summit. You can see from my GPS recorded tracks that we took one trail up and the second down. This is actually Wilderness Peak in fact. The true Cougar Mountain is just to the North. However for locals all the peaks in the park are considered Cougar Mountain, this is why we chose to summit Wilderness Peak as it is the highest.

The summit has no view, making the trip a little anti climatic. However there is a nice bench to sit on and a home made registrar to sign. There was a small glimpse of Mt. Rainier on the way down. Nothing that makes the trip a "must do" however.
I am glad I did this relatively short hike. It is a great one to tackle in the winter when the rain isn't falling. These hills almost never get snow and can be tackled any time of year.

View Cougar Mountain in a larger map

Getting There: See map for best directions

Difficulty: Easy-Moderate

Fees: None

Squak Mountain
With only the short few minutes in the car for rest we, all three, headed over to the trail head to summit Squak Mountain. Like Cougar Mountain there are many ways to get the the top of Squak. I would say the most popular is from the State Park parking lot off of SE May Valley Road. Most of Squak Mountain is a State Park. There are horse trails and hiking trails. One service road to the top is a popular route but is closed to public vehicles, it does however make for a smooth, easy going, trail. We chose to cheat a little bit. By this time Gregg was having some semi serious pains in his knew, but wanted to finish with the hikes we had planned. Therefore we drove up to a trailhead on the North side of the mountain that starts at 740 ft. This saved us from climbing an extra 400 ft.
We took the Bullitt Access Trail to the Central Peak Trail to the summit. Unlike Cougar, with its rolling terrain, this trail was pretty much climbing the entire time. One interesting part of Squak Mt. is the human history. The Bullitt family settled on the hill in the early 1900's and there are still remains. We past by these as well, heading straight to the top for the sake of Gregg's knee.

View Squak Mountain in a larger map

One awesome part of hiking with Gregg was that he informed me of a free program from Microsoft. It is called PhotoSynth and allows anyone to make great panoramas and synths from multiple photos. The panorama below is of the veiwless peak on Squak. I can't wait to get out to other, more impressive places to use this program with.

Getting There: See map for best directions

Difficulty: Easy-Moderate

Fees: Discovery Pass or $10 day pass if parking at the State Park, No fee if park at the trail head on Mountainside Drive SW (location we used)

Trail Report: Twin Falls

2012-01-10T10:34:00.000-08:00

Since moving back to the Seattle area I have been overwhelmed with all the options I have for getting out and on the trail. Most of the Christmas break I spent with family. Luckily I married into a family that enjoys the outdoors. On New Years Eve a few of us went on a leisurely hike to Twin Falls, inside Twin Falls State Park.

The trail to the falls is fairly easy, and not very long. This makes it a very popular trail for families and people with dogs. There were a few dozen people on the trail during the time we were there. Even with all the crowds (the day we went wasn't really that busy) this trail is very fun. There are old growth trees, a raging river (in Summer months when the water is low it is perfect for letting the kids play in the water), multiple water falls with multiple view points, large boulders the size of cars to climb on, and tons of plant life to admire.

One great thing about this hike is it connects to other trails. It can be used as a trail head to climb Mt. Catherine and also connects to the Iron Horse Trail.

Getting There: From Seattle head East on I-90, take exit 34, turn right onto 468th Ave SE, turn left on SE 159 Street, drive to the end of the rod to trail head parking.

Difficulty: Easy

Fees: Discovery Pass or $10 one day pass (purchased at drop box at trail head)

Trail Report: Tiger Mountain East

2012-01-03T09:34:00.001-08:00

Well, I had already written up a post about this hike and somehow it got deleted as I was trying to publish it. I really don't want to write about it in full so I'll give a quick review, and post some pictures.

This is a local mountain with dozens of trails on it. My father and I chose to summit on the direct route from the highway 18 trailhead to the summit of Tiger Mountain East. There are three summit peaks on the hill. The map below shows the route that follows the service road to the top. Because the hike is on a service road it makes for easy terrain while climbing. There are a lot of mountain bikers on the road, so you will want to watch your back, especially on the hike down. There are views from the top if you are lucky enough to have a clear day. When weather does allow you will be able to have great views of the Puget Sound, Mt. Rainier, and even as far south at Tacoma.

View Tiger Mountain East in a larger map

The only summit marker

Mount Rainier blanketed by clouds

Towers at the summit

Getting There: From Seattle take I-90 East, take exit 25, turn right onto Highway 18, turn off to trail head at the highway 18 summit of Tiger Mountain. (use map above for the best route for you)

Difficulty: Moderate

Fees: Discovery Pass or $10 day pass

Gear Review: REI Revecloud Jacket

2012-01-03T09:33:00.000-08:00

Image via REI.com

I picked this up at REI the other day. I had been looking at a down/synthetic jacket for a few months now. I wanted one in the sweater style like the revecloud. This particular jacket is stuffed with a synthetic material called Primaloft, a tried and true polyester material used for jackets and sleeping bags. It is the last in my arsinal against cold. The sweater style is thin enough to fit under a hard shell and still provide plenty of warmth.
I chose to go with a synthetic fill for a couple of reasons. The first reason is true to almost all products that use down or synthetics, price. This jacket is anywhere from $25-$75 less expensive than the least expensive down sweater of comparable quality. I picked it up on clearance making it an even easier decision to go with synthetic. The other reason I prefer synthetic in this application is the fact that most down jackets loose feathers. Over a number of years the down will loose lift, in general synthetics don't have this problem. The final reason and possibly most important reason for choosing this jacket is of course the fact that I look good in it. This means I don't have to reserve use to the trail. I can sport this coat around town and feel nice and toasty while doing it.
So how does it perform? I think pretty well. In the store I got really toasty, after only a few seconds, while trying on the jacket. It works well in the elements too. In moderate temperatures it is almost too much. I started a fairly simple eight mile hike to the summit of Tiger Mountain with it on and had to quickly resign it to my pack.
I'll be very honest, this is not a jacket for sub zero temps. However I would use it in winter camping situations where temperatures don't dip too far below freezing. This style of jacket works well with whatever layering system you have in place. There is plenty of room under it to slide in a couple of base layers, and it is tight enough to put your hard shell or even a large snow jacket on over. In my eyes the perfect style. It is also great for backcountry applications. It even comes with a stuff sack for easy packing.
Where to buy: REI.com
Regular Price: $149

Tip for the trail

2011-12-31T14:58:00.001-08:00

Carry hard candy, like Jolly Ranchers or Life Savers. When you are huffing and puffing, drying your mouth out, pop one in. Your saliva will start to flow and the sugar helps keep your energy up! Don't forget to hold on to your trash.

Big Knife vs. Little Knife Gerber Paraframe Review

2011-12-27T09:06:00.000-08:00

I have come across a lot of blog posts and forums recently where people are debating the use of knives on the trail. Many of the super light weight enthusiasts believe that no knife is the way to go. Others keep there 5" blades strapped to their legs. I think a knife is a must, and if you don't have a knife in the back country you are nuts. I follow the line of thinking of many survival experts; that a knife is the most important tool after your brain while in a survival situation.
I understand that when on a trail the likelihood of getting lost and put into a survival situation isn't very high. So instead of the huge knife wrapped around your thigh I just bring along my pocket knife.
Normally I bring along my everyday carry knife. I did use the Columbia River Rainier. It has a 2.8" folding blade and awesome grip. the clip is very strong and Columbia River makes great blades. It has a combo blade (the lower half is serrated). This knife has a special locking mechanism so that you can never accidentally close the knife on yourself. I have had this knife for just over three years and use if everyday. It has been beat up and the blade just now has started to show wear. For the price set (around $30.00 retail) the knife has performed perfectly.
I though my Columbia River was the perfect knife for everyday carry and trail/camp use. That is, until I got a new knife for Christmas this year. My friend Zach has been talking about the Gerber Para-frame Mini. He sent me one for Christmas and I think I have changed my mind on what the perfect everyday/trail knife should be. The blade itself is only 2", the total length length is only 3", just .2" over the length of the Columbia River blade. This makes the knife lighter and less noticeable when clipped in the pocket. I can hardly tell it is clipped in my jeans pockets when carrying it. Because it is very slim I don't have to adjust it in my pocket when laying on the floor on my side. At first I was concerned that because it was harder to notice in my pocket I might not notice if it unclipped and fell out of my pocket. This is not a concern however. The clip is super strong, to a fault almost. It is sometimes hard to clip to my jeans. There is no way this knife is going to fall out on its own. Not that it helps the performance in any way, but the design is pretty cool. (There are two other versions of the Para-frame from Gerber in larger sizes).
After only a couple of days I have retired my knife of choice for the smaller, slimmer option. On the trail a knife is a must, but this new Gerber Para-frame I have is just enough to get almost any job done.
I have yet to know how the blade will hold up and for that fact I give this knife 3 3/4 stars for now. It will have to earn my trust for long term strength and construction.
Thanks Zach.

2011 Elk Hunting

2011-11-22T12:50:00.000-08:00

For the second time in my life I have chosen to go out and harvest a wild elk to provide meat for my family. Last year I was able to shoot an elk in a short day, about 5ft. from my brother in law's truck. We drove right up to the elk, gutted it, and loaded it with relative ease.
This year's hunt has been very different. First, the hunting zone is different. The area of our hunt is in mountainous terrain, lots of thick pine forests and aspen groves. This is a contrast to last year's area that consisted of wide open, high desert, terrain. Second, the location is at a much farther distance from home. Instead of a thirty minute drive, to likely spot that elk would habitate, we are driving an hour to an hour and a half. Thirdly, the area is virtually unknown to myself and my brother in law. Before hunting here I had only driven through the area on a service road while camping. My brother in law had hunted the same hunting zone a few years back, but he admits to not liking the area much. Fourth, because the terrain is so rough we are not able to drive around like last year (not that I think driving around till you see something to shoot is really hunting). We have bushwhacked in thick forest for up to twelve miles at a time try to push out small groups of elk.
In all I have been into the area 4 different days now. I personally haven't even seen any elk, they are out there though. There are plenty of signs, often fresh, that elk are all over the place. Hoof prints, scat, and even fur rubbed off on trees are all testaments to the presence of the animals. I have even been in brush so thick I can hear the elk breaking branches with in 25ft. to my location but do not see a thing. Others members of our hunting party have seen elk but no one has even gotten a shot off yet.

Day 1 we took two loops near each other, trying to use the geography and topography of the land to our advantage. Maps 2 and 3 are combined, I had problems with my GPS tracking on my phone.

View Elk hunting 2011-10-22 13:56 in a larger map

View ELK HUNTING 2011-10-22 07:57 in a larger map

View ELK HUNTING 2011-10-22 11:45 in a larger map

The second day saw us using much of the same area, although we tried to get a little wider in our range to keep the elk in our loop. My brother and law split up for most of this day knowing that we both had GPS and familiarity of the area. My route is what you see on the map. The total distance was just over 12 miles, in around four hours time. It had snowed about a week earlier and there was 3-4 inches of slick snow on the ground.

View ELK HUNTING 2011-11-11 07:10 in a larger map

Our third day out we did two loops. The first was in a very thick area of the forest and down a trail not yet hunted by our group. Then we returned to more familiar terrain to try a loop we tried our first day. It was snowing almost all day. While walking the first route of the day it was blizzard like conditions. We returned to the truck to find a fresh 6 inches had fallen while we were out.

View ELK HUNTING 2011-11-12 07:39 in a larger map

View ELK HUNTING 2011-11-12 11:35 in a larger map

The fourth day wasn't tracked. I was hoping that a few days of snow would bring some elk into the open. I loaded up the family and we drove all over the hunting zone from the north boundary to the southern borders. Not a single elk was seen.
I am not sure if this is just not a good year to hunt in this zone or if I am doing something very wrong. I plan on going out and trying my luck at least one more time. In hopes I will bag an elk this coming Saturday and be able to fill my freezer with meat that will last us until this time next year.

Dual Survival- TV review

2011-10-17T07:29:00.000-07:00

There is a new show on the Discovery Channel (well one season old now). It is called Dual Survival. It stars Dave Canterbury and Cody Lundin, two wilderness survival experts. These two guys know what they are talking about. They create a team structure that is great for survival situations. Most people don't go into the wilderness alone and seeing the team dynamic is great. The best part is they don't always agree or use similar tactics in a given situation.

Dave Canterbury

Dave Canterbury is an US Army trained sniper. He hunts and trains in the Midwest. Canterbury teaches survival classes for a living, mostly in wooded wilderness areas. His army training comes through in his 'get something done' attitude. He loves to eat "four legged furry critters" and not much else. In his eyes Mother Nature is the enemy and one must do anything they can to combat and over come her in a survival situation.

Cody Lundin

In contrast to Canterbury we have Cody Lundin. He has little to no formal training. However he lives what he preaches. For over 20 years he has lived in a mud dug out home in the Arizona desert. The minimalist lifestyle is what he trains to students as well. He collects rain water, composts his own waste, and grows his own food. The first thing you notice about Lundin is he doesn't wear shoes or long pants. (In the first episode the two are stranded on a small island in Nova Scotia in January. Lundin wears shorts, sweatshirt, and wool socks). You might imagine that he is some sort of hermit, however he is pretty in tune with the modern world. Tree huggers annoy him as well as the uneducated. In his survival he uses the Earth instead of fighting against it. Living the way he lives, he claims, is how he gets in tune with and respects the Earth.
All in all this a great survival show. The two men do have a support team and are put into situations to simply display survival techniques, but this doesn't spoil anything for me. It is great to see what these guys get themselves into and how they get out using all their combined skills. They also have a short 30 second segment in each episode that gives a quick tip for the climate they are in. These reasons make this my new favorite survival TV show. Seeing how two people react to the elements, situation, and each other simulates (I think) a more likely survival situation.

In case you were wondering I prefer Cody.

Check out the first season on Netflix and some clips at discovery.com

Table Mountain - Revisited

2011-10-09T08:52:00.000-07:00

Last September my father and I attempted a multi-day trip on the west side of the Tetons. It didn't go as planned, and we actually turned home the first day.

An attempt to show steepness.

One year later, to the weekend, we decided to scale things back a little. Instead of a multi-day hike we would only try to summit Table Mountain. This time our packs were lighter and our trail shorter. The ground wasn't covered in a foot of snow, and we packed the minimum amount of gear. Instead of taking the longer looping trail we went up the "Face Trail" (named for the fact that it climbs straight up the face of the mountain form the valley floor). It is a much shorter trail at only 3.5 miles, however it is very steep. The elevation gain takes you from the valley floor at 7,000 ft. to the summit, just over 11, 100 ft.
We thought we had stated early, but the trail head parking lot was virtually full. We started confident and at a good pace, but it very quickly hit us that this was going to be the kind of trail that demanded we stop every few hundred yards. The higher we went the harder it got. My dad was in Seattle at sea level the day before. He could feel the lack of oxygen in his legs. There wasn't much he could do to improve his state, but being burned by the mountain before he was determined to summit. It wasn't long before I could feel my lungs burning and legs failing me as well.
We pushed on and cleared the trees. We could see at least 30 people on Table Mountain. They all came down before we approached the last, and longest, mile. Above the tree line we hit the scree, loose dirt, and gravel. This was especially hard to walk on with drained legs. At this point we were stopping every 20-50 ft. trying to hit a small landmark as a goal.

At the top!

View from valley floor. You can spot the
trail near the top.

No matter how hard a trail the summit is always rewarding, and this hike has one of the best rewards of them all (for a day hike). Only a mile to the East are the Grand Tetons, the Cathedral Group looks like you could reach out and grab it. The view to the North and South are not too shabby either, each has many jagged peaks and evidence of trails that temp your open calendar slots. The West, behind you, is picturesque in its own right. The Teton Valley and Snake River range open up to view the higher you get. On a really clear day you can see over to central Idaho and the mountain ranges that form the skyline there.
After a snack we started down. The rest made the trail go much quicker. Like most we chose to take the same trail down. "It was quicker getting up face why wouldn't it be quicker to get down?" Problem was the steepness of the the trail cause a very methodical pace. We had to be careful not to trip on a rock or root and tumble down the mountain. Both of us did slip or trip at least a couple time. Dad slipped into a large rock jamming his big toe (by the time we got to the bottom his entire toe nail was purple underneath). We both had blisters and sore toes at the bottom. It was the perfect time to stick your feet in the ice cold water of Teton Creek.
Even though the trail was hard and punishing, this is after all in no way a leisurely day hike, it was a lot of fun. I had this idea of revenge in my head. I was going to conquer the mountain. It had let me get to the summit before, but I felt like that was on favors. This time around was much more rewarding and enjoyable. I can honestly say I have no desire to return to Table Mountain.
Trail Map: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

NOT RECOMMENDED

Getting there: From Highway 33 in Driggs, Id. head east on Ski Hill Rd. After crossing the state line into Wyoming turn right onto Teton Canyon Rd. The trail head is at the end of the road, past the campground. For the 'Face' trail head continue past the first parking lot to the right, there is another parking lot. The actual trail head is to the North of the pit toilets (not very well marked).

Yellowstone National Park Backcountry DAY 3

2011-09-25T14:28:00.000-07:00

Day 1 and Day 2 found here.
The third and final day of the trip started earlier then the day before. Zach had to get home to Utah and I wanted to see my family. It was to be the shortest day as we headed to the trail head at Lewis Lake.

The moose

Dropping back to Shoshone Lake

We woke up to a brisk morning. The cold air had settled in the valley. Preparations were being made and we were eating breakfast to fuel up. As we ate breakfast the reason for naming Moose Creek became very evident. All of a sudden Jordan looked up and motioned to the right of both Zach and I. We thought he was joking around but looked anyways. Right there in the middle of our camp with out making a sound was a moose. Probably about 2 years old, the male moose just stood there looking at us, as if to say "hey guys what's going on", then he started towards the creek. We scrambled to find out cameras, trying not to make too much noise so we would startle the moose into either running away or charging. We snapped a couple of shots before the moose disappeared into the bushes. We followed cautiously. This was the only animal we had seen after two whole days in the backcountry.

Jordan and Zach crossing the Shoshone Lake outlet

After all that excitement we packed up and headed out. The trail was steep straight away. It plateaued around 8,000 feet and then dropped back to the lake. As we dropped back down we came across a group of volunteers improving the trail. These were pretty much the only people we had any interaction with up to this point. We had hardly seen anyone else out on the trail. We had to ford the crossing at the Shoshone Lake outlet, the start of the Lewis River. The water provided a good break for our hot feet. We spend some time enjoying the scenery as we let our feet dry before putting our boots back on.

That way...

Once across the river we headed along the shore to the ranger's station at Shoshone Lake. I should have snapped some pictures. The cabin was nothing to shake a stick at, in fact it made me want to be a backcountry ranger. It had a solar panel, outdoor cooking area, plenty of chopped wood, and all the tools you would need to live in the back country. From what I could see from the outside there was indoor cooking area, a living area, and a loft of some sort. There was a chimney as well, not sure if for a fireplace or simply a cooking vent.
This is were we had a decision to make. We could stay along the river and eventually along Lewis Lake shore, or take the high route off the water and see nothing. We chose the low route even though it was longer in miles we figured it would be a little more enjoyable. It probably did take a little longer the way we went. The trail was up and down 50 feet or so, normally not a big deal, but do that 10-15 times and it gets annoying. I was driven to get finished though. 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.

Next time we are jumping in.

One spot I wish we could have spent more time at was an out crop of rocks that jutted into the river. The rocks were anywhere from 10-25 feet from the water surface. We could see to the bottom and there were a couple of good deep spots that would have been great fun to jump into. Not wanting to take the time to change and swim and dry off we opted to keep pushing after a short break.

Lewis Lake with the Tetons in the far
distance.

Eventually we came to Lewis lake. A much smaller lake than Shoshone but deeper. The wind on Lewis Lake is much stranger than on Shoshone. This created larger waves and kept us cooler. We could see motor boats on the lake and came in contact with a few people out for day hikes and fishing. There was a sense that we were reaching the end of our trek. We paused again to call our wives. My wife, Jessica, was picking us up at the parking lot and I wanted to try coordinate with here our pick up. We guessed that we had about 45 minutes left on the trail. I couldn't get a hold of her so I sent a text and a voice mail. Pushing on we came to our finish. The parking lot came almost out of nowhere, tucked in the trees there was no real warning we were at our end point. The three of us shed our packs in the shade. It was almost exactly 45 minutes from the time I called my wife. At the parking lot we didn't have the open space provided by the lake and therefore didn't have a cell signal. With my phone starting to die I went out to the main road. The phone picked up a signal, all be it a very spotty one. I couldn't get through to Jessica. As cars zoomed by I was hoping to get a signal. Then almost with stroke of pure luck I saw her coming down the road. She pulled over and admitted to not knowing where to turn to pick us up. I had shown her the location on the maps, but didn't blame her for this because the signs for the parking lot were small and the pull out was around a corner.
A good day to end a great trip!

Yellowstone National Park Backcountry DAY 2

2011-09-25T09:52:00.000-07:00

Pools at Shoshone Geyser Basin

Catch the first day of the hike here.

In the morning of the second day there was a little, lets say, excitement in the tent as we prepped to exit. We all three wanted to know if a bear maybe came pocking around. We had seen bear claw marks on the trees and bear pole in camp and figured most of those were made at night. As we settled down the night before i had forgotten my lip balm in my pocket and Jordan had some jolly ranger wrappers in his. We put all this in a small bag and tossed it out of the tent near the bear pole. This little bag full of smellies didn't move an inch all night and we were glad.
Because all of out water purification methods had failed the day before we were now trying to think about how we would ration our stove fuel for boiling water. We figured we would boil all we could hold in our bottles for the rest of the day and take it from there. So with breakfast in our bellies and water in our bottles we started off.

Shield Geyser

Day 2 was to be the highlight of the trip, for me. The only full day of hiking started with a visit to the Shoshone Geyser Basin. The opposite of an oasis in the middle of lush fields and forest, with a lake on one side and a river on the other. If you have ever been to Yellowstone and walked along the boardwalks around old faithful you have seen similar thermal features. The thing that makes the Shoshone Geyser basin special is the fact that you are, in some cases, six inches away from a feature. There are no boardwalks, there are no railings, it is just a small trail that weaves between the geysers, mud posts, and thermal pools.

Marsh near Shoshone Lake

This trail also got us to our highest point of the trip. Just over 8,200 feet. The trail followed the lake after the geyser basin. We walked through marshy fields and sandy beaches for about a mile before we started to climb. It really seemed like all the elevation game came at once. My legs were burning. I can't remember having any breathing issues or headache, like the day before, I think this was just being out of shape. The bugs were out early today and we had to stop a few times to apply bug spray/lotion. There was also a set of wolf tracks on the trail. A lone wolf had made fresh tracks that morning that went the opposite direction. By the size of the tracks I am very glad we hadn't crossed paths with the animal. Wolves are normally pretty cautious of humans but a lone alpha male might act out if it felt threatened.

Wolf Track

In the low marshes and up in the hills we crossed many streams and other bodies of water that I would call puddles. Most had logs across them, none had any actual bridges build. When we stopped for lunch next to Moose Creek Zach and Jordan gave into the temptation of fresh fast flowing cold water. Our bottles were still filled but the water was pretty warm still and they couldn't resist. With at least 24 hours left in our trip I wasn't about to risk getting sick. I had visions of day 3, stopping every 20 ft to rid my body of what ever organism was disrupting it. I figured if we ran out of fuel and couldn't treat water any more I would wait until the last day so that if I was sick I could at least get the visitor center toilets. The guys didn't get sick, and I actually took one swig of the cold fresh water. To be honest I always feel closer to my surroundings, and feel a little more wild, when I drink direct from a water source.
Our last crossing of the day brought us back around to Moose Creek. This was the first crossing that required us to ford the creek. We shed our shoes and socks and crossed. This was the first time ever hiking that I didn't have logs or rocks to cross over. About 100 yards later we were at our camp.

Cooling boiled water in creek

Tent at Moose Creek (8M1) site.

As beautiful of a setting our first camp had this second camp was laid out much better. More flat tent pads, more open areas, tall pines with small about of low brush. We were about 50 yards from the creek which allowed for more fishing (again had no luck but a great chance to unwind a little). Even though the trail was hard it was short. This allowed us quite a bit of time to mull around. Jordan took a nap and read a little. Zach and I fished for a while. We took the time to reorganize our gear a little. Zach and I both took turns bathing in the creek. Then when the sun went down the bugs came out and we hit the tent.
It was only around 8 pm when we got bedded down and none of use were ready to sleep. This left us time to have some philosophical and spiritual conversation. After a bit of that we ended our day.

First fish of the year

2011-09-21T07:16:00.001-07:00

This first is my fish of the year. A small blue gill from a lake near Logan, Utah. Not too impressive, but fun to fish.
This post is a test from my mobile.

Yellowstone Photos from GDB Studios

2011-09-07T08:50:00.000-07:00

Visit the GDB Studios blog for more great pictures. Enjoy.