Last week, despite soaring temperatures in the Northeast, some 22,000 runners took to the streets of Boston to compete in the 116^th running of our nation’s oldest marathon. I honored these brave souls by covering a much more modest 6.2 miles in order to test out CamelBak’s 2012 Ultra LR™ hydration vest.

front view with reservoir removed

Marathon runners typically have the luxury of aid stations along the course, so a hydration vest is not a necessity on race day.  But for long training runs, or for ultra-marathoners, adventure racers or even mountain bikers, a hydration vest could be a welcome addition to your usual gear.

As a veteran of ten marathons, including four Bostons, my hydration system used to consist of an elastic belt with a single 16-ounce bottle.  But bottles bounce and sometimes slosh, and sixteen ounces doesn’t go very far during a two- or three-hour training run.

The Ultra LR™ comes equipped with a 70-ounce (2 L) Antidote™ lumbar reservoir which sits horizontally and hugs the lower back.  An independent strap running with the waist belt allows for a cinching of the bladder as it is emptied.  The adjustable shoulder harness with Slider™ sternum straps along with the dual chest straps provide a snug custom fit for runners large and small.  It’s a perfect combination of features to block the bounce and stop the slosh.

Two small front pouches and waist belt zippered pockets allow plenty of space for an iPod, cell phone, car keys, or energy bars.  A larger mesh pouch on the back, perfect for rain gear or an emergency poncho, brings the total cargo capacity to 200 cubic inches (3.28 L), and can turn your Ultra LR™ hydration vest into an ultra light weight trail pack.  Unloaded, the vest weighs in at 1.15 pounds (0.54 kg).

So for trial runs or trail hikes, adventure racing or mountain bikes, CamelBak’s Ultra LR™ hydration vest is a welcome addition to any outdoor enthusiast’s gear vault.

The Ultra LR™ retails for around $130.00 and is available at CamelBak.com or your favorite outdoor retailer.

Bill Urbanski

Weekday lawyer, weekend farmer, and climber every chance he gets, Bill is a sub-3-hour marathoner who has stood on the summit of every state highpoint in the lower 48, and has spent nearly 3 weeks on Denali in Alaska.

 

If I said I wasn’t a bit nervous, maybe even reluctant, I’d be lying, but climbing a mountain of this magnitude is not anything to be taken lightly. After all, many use Rainier as their training grounds for far off peaks in the Himalaya and Alaska Range. “Was I ready?”, “Did I train hard enough”, “Would we be caught in a bad rock or icefall?” These were the thoughts that filled my head in the weeks leading up to my Arrival in Ashford, Washington.

Long had I dreamt of big mountain adventure, and for some reason I fixated on Rainier. For months, years even, I read what I could about mountain travel and this enthralling stratovolcano bearing the name “Rainier”. Being considered the most technical mountain climb in the continental US, Rainier was a formidable pursuit to say the least. I chose to up the ante by making my pursuit a charitable one by enlisting in the Summit For Someone program. This program directly benefits Big City Mountaineers, a non profit responsible for taking under-resourced teens on week long outdoor experiences.

By the time I arrived at RMI Base camp in Ashford I had been traveling for over two weeks with stops in the Colorado Front range, and an unsuccessful summit attempt of the Grand Teton. Despite not making the summit, my two days in the Wyoming backcoutry had given me the confidence I needed to feel comfortable about Rainier. Our team had made it all the way to 13,000 feet and I was feeling strong considering that it had been my first time working my body above 8,000 feet.

As I continued up the Muir snowfield on a warm August afternoon, I could not help but stare at the perspective bending views surrounding me. Behind me, like an oil painting in the sky stood Mount Adams, Saint Helens and in the distance even hood. Ahead of me, the glacier capped volcano that is Rainier with the Nisqually glacier being the most imposing feature in my current uphill view. Appearing as a severely cracked sheet of glass sliding down the mountain, the Nisqually glacier was littered with crevasses and seracs. Our planned route, Disappointment Cleaver, Took us around the objective danger of the Nisqually by crossing the Cowlitz and Ingraham glaciers.

With roughly four miles of terrain at our backs, Camp Muir became visible in the distance. Excitement began to noticeably increase among the members of my group. We had all been Summit For Someone climbers who tasked ourselves with the mission of scaling this peak in the name of all of the generous people who donated to our cause, but more importantly, we climbed for those teens. At around 2:30pm we strolled into Camp Muir glowing with energy and excitement. Our snow school training the day prior allowed us to excel at conserving energy.

Camp Muir, situated at 10,080 feet was built in 1921 under the supervision of Daniel R Hull of the National Park Service. The original stone shelter is 12 by 25 feet and consists of only one room. In addition to this structure, there are other newer structures including solar composting outhouses, and the RMI bunkhouse in which we made our home for the evening.

Dan, our lead guide debriefed us for the day when we arrived to Muir, Praising us on our effectiveness and strength as we ascended the Muir Snowfield. He assured us that he had no concerns about our ability to climb to the upper reaches of this mountain provided the mountain allowed it. The weather looked clear for the next twenty four hours, the clearest Dan had seen all season. We were left with a final piece of advice to continue consuming liquids and food until we went to be to help fend off the effects of being at altitude. We broke our huddle and went off to rest for the evening.

Knowing that we intended to be marching toward the summit no later than 11:30pm to take advantage of the firm night time snow I began to wind down. This was difficult I would come to find as it was only just after Three in the afternoon. After a cup of hot tea, I rolled out my sleeping gear in the confined platform of the RMI bunkhouse and lay down. Most of the evening was spent thinking about the summit push while staring at the ceiling. The closer the clock ticked to 10:30, the more anxious I got.

Eternity finally came to an end and one of the guides came in to begin to bolster us from our sleeping bags. I quickly jumped to attention and began to ready my gear. I hurriedly put on the necessary clothing and packed my summit bag. I strapped my crampons on and we began to tie into our rope teams.

Roping up for glacier travel made me feel like I had never felt before on an outdoor adventure. This felt serious. Exciting, but at the same time something that must not be taken lightly. Glacier travel can be unpredictable and deadly if not respected and I knew that. I thought about my family and all the folks who have cheered me on throughout the past few months of fund raising and living unconventionally. I thought about how lucky I was as I watched some of my biggest dreams, the stuff I fantasized about for years materialized right in front of me and finally I asked whatever high power may be out there for safe passage to and from the summit for not only my team, but everyone on the mountain that day.

In no time at all we had begun our ascent. The sky was clearest I had seen it in a long time, and a vivid blanket of starts filled my view. I placed one foot in front of the other as we stepped onto the Cowlitz Glacier. Making sure to employ the rest step with each motion and the pressure breath as needed. Conserving energy at this altitude is important. It could mean the difference between A summit sunrise or an early turn around.

Over the following few hours our conga line danced across the glacial crust of Rainier with precision and grace. We stopped infrequently, only for our short rest breaks, and to coil in the rope teams for travel across rocky terrain like Cathedral gap and the routes namesake, The Disappointment Cleaver. In what seemed like mere minutes we were on the home stretch to the crater rim. A smile across my face lit up brightly with enthusiasm and gratitude, I began to laugh. It seemed as if the mighty Rainier was going to grant us passage to her crater rim.

Only one more obstacle stood between us and the rim: A nearly four foot wide crevasse. We arrived at the gaping crack in the glacier and one by one our rope team crossed the aluminum ladder spanning the fissure. I was up. I grabbed the hand line anchored to the snow for balance and placed my crampons onto the rungs of the ladder. One foot in front of the other I crossed the unnatural span until I had landed safely on the other side.

A few short minutes later our rope team crested the crater rim of Mount Rainier. The early morning sky did little to showcase the grandeur of the Caldera before me. The real show would start shortly when the Sun permeated the ridge to the east. For six hours I had traveled as a unit with my comrades, but with the hazards of the glacier behind us, we detached from one another.

Though we had made it to the crater, we still had about twenty more minutes to Columbia Crest, the true summit of Mount Rainier, But we rested for a bit before making that final push to the roof of Washington. I sipped on water, ate a candy bar and reminisced for a bit about the trek up this formidable peak. Though the hike up was not without its moments of altitude induced nausea, exhaustion and cold, the overall ascent was an enjoyable one. The experience made me feel nothing short of elated.

As the group gathered, The guides applauded our strength and ability, but also made it clear that we were only half way there. Alpinist Ed Viesturs said it best when he said “It’s a round trip. Getting to the summit is optional, getting down is mandatory.”

By this time, the sun was beginning to rise. One by one, the eleven members of our group began to rise to their feet. With ice axe in hand we crossed the crater snowfield along a well defined path to columbia crest located on the other side. As we neared the far side of the crater, the sun hit my face for the first time in nearly twelve hours. Everything in it’s path took on a brilliant fiery glow.

I stopped for a moment just below the summit to snap a picture for one of my comrades and to admire the beautiful sunrise. I had never seen anything this beautiful in my life.

Within moments I had arrived at Columbia Crest, There were many successful climbers celebrating alongside us. Some hugged one another, many shook hands, and everyone was smiling. Our group each had their individual summit celebrations. I took out my prayer flags and held them up for a photograph, as well as took photographs for others.

We gathered as a group on the summit and reveled in our accomplishments, talked briefly about some of our fundraising experiences, then took a group photo. Over the past day and a half, this group became brothers on the mountain. None of us new each other coming in, but now we all have new friends going out. We thanked each other for the support throughout the past day and then turned back down the mountain.

I stood there on the summit for a bit longer, smiled and said “i’ll be back again” Then turned to head back down the mountain. After all, we were only half way there.

Patrick gensel

Patrick is a lover of all things adventure and photography. When he is not at home in Northeast PA, he can be found traveling with his camera and climbing. One of his most memorable experiences outdoors is his recent summit of Mount Rainier.

    

One sure sign that rock climbing has hit the mainstream is its recent appearance in several current television ads.  Miller Lite injected a humorous look at climbers into its “un-manly” series.  Heating and air-conditioning company Service Experts also used humor in a pitch featuring an “expert” ice climber.

For a more realistic, non-humorous look at the sport, there’s Citibank.  With stunning aerial photography and jaw-dropping helmet cam footage, Citi’s ad is a thirty-second testimonial to the awe-inspiring beauty and sheer thrill that attracts so many to the sport.  In fact, with such eye-popping visuals, the message of the ad itself is almost lost.

Ancient Art's Corkscrew Summit - photo credit: mountainproject.com

When the average viewer of the Citi ad recovers from the vertigo induced by it, questions usually follow.  My friends know I climb, so I find myself fielding these questions all the time, the most frequent of which is, “is it real?”  A legitimate question, I suppose, given modern green screen technology, digital imagery and computerized special effects.

The short answer to “is it real?” is a resounding “yes.”  However, Citi has used a little poetic license.  The climbers portrayed in the ad are no ordinary couple, but in fact professional rock climbers Katie Brown and Alex Honnold.

Katie Brown - photo credit: prweb.com

Brown, 29, has been climbing since age 13, and winning climbing competitions ever since.  Honnold, 26, is considered by many to be one of the best free solo climbers on the planet today.  He was recently featured on CBS’ 60 Minutes and in National Geographic’s Alone on the Wall.

Alex Honnold - photo credit: nerverush.com

The magnificent rock formation Brown and Honnold climbed is called Ancient Art.  It is part of Fisher Towers near Moab, Utah.  I had my eye on this very climb during my recent visit to Moab last summer.  Unfortunately, extreme heat and insufficient time kept me from assuming that same pose achieved by Brown atop this most iconic of desert towers.

Brown and Honnold I’m sure made easy work of Ancient Art, a climb well below the grades to which they are accustomed.  But for a climber of more modest abilities, Ancient Art can be quite challenging.  It is four pitches, 275-feet, and rated 5.10.  The exposure on the final pitch and the signature corkscrew finish make it the most popular climb on the Towers.

So next time your favorite television show is interrupted by those breathtaking images from the Utah desert, you can rest assured that what you are seeing is not the product of Hollywood magic, but indeed a 100% real showcase of two of today’s most talented climbers on one of the sport’s – my sport’s – most spectacular playgrounds.

(Credits: Homepage thumbnail courtesy of s_mestdagh on Flickr)

Bill Urbanski

Weekday lawyer, weekend farmer, and climber every chance he gets, Bill is a sub-3-hour marathoner who has stood on the summit of every state highpoint in the lower 48, and has spent nearly 3 weeks on Denali in Alaska.

 

In recent years, the CampTheSummit team has been drawn to New Hampshire for a variety of adventures: rock climbing in Rumney, winter ascents of Mount Washington to name a few.  Last Saturday, Patrick and I loaded our duffel bags with crampons, boots and ice tools in hopes of adding ice climbing to the list.  In the event ice conditions were not favorable, we threw in our packs and trail shoes for a hiking alternative.

Well, we never did get on any ice, but we did manage to find a trail. It was however a trail unlike any other we had ever encountered before – it was the Presidential campaign trail.  Tuesday was the first in the nation Presidential Primary in the Granite State and we were at ground zero.

We spent a good deal of time in and around Manchester, the state’s biggest city and consequently the epicenter of political activity.  One of our first stops was the Occupy New Hampshire movement where we scored a “bird dog” list, a comprehensive listing of all presidential candidates’ schedules.  Using this list, and checking individual candidate websites, we made the rounds from event to event.

As members of the media, the CTS team had up close and personal access to major political candidates, attending a town hall meeting with Speaker Newt Gingrich, a private house party with Governor Jon Huntsman, and a rally with Senator Rick Santorum.

Patrick working the Jon Huntsman event

Meeting non-candidate celebrities was also part of our experience and in many ways was more interesting and entertaining.  Faux candidate Vermin Supreme provided us with pure American political drama at the Santorum rally. (Supreme is the only candidate to support full funding of time travel and is the only one who regularly wears a boot on his head).  We met fellow Pennsylvanian and MSNBC political commentator Chris Matthews at a Barnes & Noble book signing.  One highlight in particular was meeting the Huntsman girls – Jon Huntsman’s daughters who have been stumping for votes along with their Dad.

After a full day of politics on Sunday, Patrick and I turned our sights on the Whites and drove into the North Country in search of snow.  We found it in places like Franconia Notch, the Cannon Cliffs, and on the grounds of the famous Mount Washington Hotel.  At the Appalachian Mountain Club lodge in Crawford Notch we were treated to a photography exhibit featuring the work of legendary alpinist Bradford Washburn.

Patrick shooting the Mount Washington Hotel

Our day concluded with a visit to Dixville Notch, near the Canadian border, where in the Ballot Room of the Balsams Hotel, we witnessed the first nine ballots being cast in the 2012 Presidential Primary.

For a couple of outdoor enthusiasts, it was disappointing not to swing our ice tools and kick our crampons into New Hampshire ice, but the weekend of Presidential politics was a thoroughly unique experience, and it was packed with every bit of adventure we’ve come to expect in our more regular, non-political, natural pursuits.

Cannon Cliff

Bill Urbanski

Weekday lawyer, weekend farmer, and climber every chance he gets, Bill is a sub-3-hour marathoner who has stood on the summit of every state highpoint in the lower 48, and has spent nearly 3 weeks on Denali in Alaska.

 

Watch this unlikely batter between a mountain biker and a snowboarder on a downhill snow course.

Patrick gensel

Patrick is a lover of all things adventure and photography. When he is not at home in Northeast PA, he can be found traveling with his camera and climbing. One of his most memorable experiences outdoors is his recent summit of Mount Rainier.

    

Wolverine’s patented ICS (Individual Comfort System) technology is back in 2012 with a splash of color in several new trail hiker styles.  For those unfamiliar, ICS is a gel disc that sits in the shoe’s heel, just under the OrthoLite® footbed.  Simply pop out the disc and spin it to your desired level of comfort.  Positioning of the disc also allows those who have issues with under- or over-pronation to add cushioning to the outer or inner heel.

Once you have the ICS disc dialed in to your individual needs, you can hit the trail in comfort and with confidence.  I took the new 2012 Pulsar for a spin, and in addition to the comfort, for a low-cut trail hiker, I was instantly struck by the stability of the ride.  An external heel counter adds ankle support and action frame stabilizers provide a secure ankle wrap to prevent lateral movement.

The Pulsar is also equipped with breathable GORE-TEX® waterproof membranes, and rugged Vibram® outsoles with Claw-Trax™ traction – a great combination to keep your feet dry and your footing sure on just about any terrain you will encounter.

I consider myself a runner first and hiker second, so shoe weight is always a factor for me, even in a trail hiker.  My size 10 Pulsars tipped the scales at 18.9 ounces, a surprisingly low figure for a shoe that provides the features and noticeable level of security normally found in a much heavier and clunkier hiking boot.

Stylish and comfortable, with the ruggedness you’d expect from Wolverine, the Pulsar will be available in four vibrant colors for men, and five for women.  Coming this February to your favorite outdoor retailer, the Pulsar is expected to sell for $165.  Also available at www.wolverine.com.

Bill Urbanski

Weekday lawyer, weekend farmer, and climber every chance he gets, Bill is a sub-3-hour marathoner who has stood on the summit of every state highpoint in the lower 48, and has spent nearly 3 weeks on Denali in Alaska.

 

This girl is a machine! Plan and simple. She conquers in competition, she conquers outdoors, and she is only 18 years old. I had the opportunity to watch this girl compete at last years Winter Burn at PRG, and she was just incredible to watch, so graceful and determined. There is no doubt in my mind that she deserves this send.

Patrick gensel

Patrick is a lover of all things adventure and photography. When he is not at home in Northeast PA, he can be found traveling with his camera and climbing. One of his most memorable experiences outdoors is his recent summit of Mount Rainier.

    

Initially I had my doubts about the Omni-heat liner found on many of Columbia’s products, but after a few cold mornings, where this jacket repeatedly warmed up in little to no time at all, I am sold on those little silver dots. Omni-Heat technology works by reflecting your body heat back at you to help recycle said heat. This jacket is insulated with Columbia 700 fill-power down which works in tandem with the stretch side panels to efficiently retain heat.

One thing that I found unique about this jacket is the inclusion of thumb holes in the jacket cuffs. While the thumb holes are a great addition, I find the cuffs to be a bit cumbersome when trying to look at my watch. I almost have to take my arm out of the sleeve to look at my large face watch. That said, I believe the cuffs play a major part in the heat retention of this jacket, and for that I find it to be only a minor inconvenience.

All of the pockets on this jacket zip shut which is a great, but not always common feature on a jacket of this sort, and the internal breast pocket has revived the batteries of my electronic devices more than once. Though it is not packable in its own pocket, the included drawstring bag packs it down to a convenient stashable size.

The Columbia Reach The Peak™ Hybrid Down Jacket retails for $180.00.

Patrick gensel

Patrick is a lover of all things adventure and photography. When he is not at home in Northeast PA, he can be found traveling with his camera and climbing. One of his most memorable experiences outdoors is his recent summit of Mount Rainier.