MyLifeOutdoors

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2019-09-04T10:07:00.001-07:00

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2018-09-27T02:55:00.003-07:00

Lincoln National Forest - Crest Trail - White Mountain Wilderness

2018-09-13T22:43:00.002-07:00

Three hours of sustained rain is enough to make anyone quit. As soon as we pulled up to the Turkey Canyon Trailhead it started to rain. My friends and I pulled out the rain gear and strapped on our packs anyway. Nothing was going to stop us from spending the weekend in the backcountry. Three hours later, soaking wet and cold, we wondered if we had made the wrong decision.

Lincoln National Forest - White Mountain Wilderness

Our plan was to spend two nights in the White Mountain Wilderness of the Lincoln National Forest outside of Ruidoso New Mexico. I have heard a lot of good things about the 20 mile Crest Trail (No. 25) and wanted to spend some time on it myself. Although doing the whole trail wasn’t going to work out for us logistically, we planned to hit a large portion of the trails middle section. We started just east of the Argentina Bonito Trail Head on the Turkey Canyon Trail (No. 40). From here it is just two and a half miles to it’s junction with the Crest Trail where we would spend the night.

Turkey Canyon Trail

That night we cooked dinner and hung our bear bag in the dark. We stripped off all of our wet clothes and draped them out inside our tents hopping they would dry as we slept. We crawled in our sleeping bags, praying the rain would stop.

Our Campsite near Turkey Spring

Turkey Canyon lived up to its name. All along the trail, during the brief moments when the rain would let up, we could hear wild turkeys gobbling. We could tell they were close, but we never saw them. We went to sleep and woke up the next morning to the sounds of wild turkeys.

The morning was beautiful. The sun was shining and the sky was clear. A dense fog rested in the canyon below us. It looked to be a great day, but we knew more rain was in the forecast. We couldn’t take another three hour or longer rain when most of our gear was still wet. We talked about heading back to the car, but the morning was simply too perfect. We packed up our wet gear and postponed our dicsion. There was another trail heading back to the car that we could bail out on if the rain started again. So we set out heading South on the Crest Trail taking in the views of Turkey Canyon in the early morning. Before long we saw a heard of Elk across the canyon from us. At first there were four or five, then ten or twelve, and before long two to three dozen Elk were grazing across the Canyon. It was going to be a good day.

View from our first campsite

Elk in the Lincoln National Forest

Elk - Lincoln National Forest

With in a hour we had made it to the Junction of the Argentina Canyon Trail (No. 39). This was the trail we were going to bail on if the rain started up again, but it was still a beautiful day. We decided to keep going, knowing there were more options to get out of the mountains if we needed to.

Backpacking in Lincoln National Forest - White Mountain Wilderness

White Mountain Wilderness - Lincoln National Forest

When we arrived at the Little Bonito Trail (No. 37) Junction. We were running low on water. Our campsite the night before had been near the Turkey Spring where we planned to resupply on water. Due to extreme drought conditions the proceeding year, the Spring was dry. We knew if we didn’t find water soon we would need to head back to the car with or without rain.

Hiking on the Crest Trail - Lincoln National Forest

Argentina and Crest Trail Junction

Nogal Peak in the distance

Getting further away from Nogal Peak

Hiking on the Crest Trail - Lincoln National Forest

Horse Pen near the Argentina Trail Junction

The Spring Cabin Spring was less than a half mile from the trail junction. We headed over there hoping the spring would be flowing. Right where the spring was supposed to be we found a mostly buried trashcan. We assumed this was the spring, even-though no water was coming out. We opened up the trashcan to find a small puddle of rusty water. I wasn’t real enthusiastic about drinking this water, even with a good filter. The Spring Cabin was nearby so we headed over there to see if it was open to the public and if any water might be found.

The Spring Cabin and Spring Cabin Springs are along the Phantom Trail No. 29

Spring Cabin Spring - Lincoln National Forest

When we arrived at the Spring Cabin we found it locked up tight with no water in sight. It was nearing lunch time and we were getting hungry. So we dropped the packs and pulled out our lunch. Setting there near the crest of the Sacramento Mountains we were able to get a good cell signal, probably from a tower near Ski Apache to our south. We decided to check the weather forecast. More rain was coming within the hour. Most of our gear was still soaked, but the sun was still shining. We pulled out the tents, and set them up to dry in the warm sun. We still had to decide if we were going to wait out another rain storm or head back to the car. We had been having such a great day, we really didn’t want to head home. Instead we gathered as much fire wood as we could before the rain came in.

Spring Cabin - Lincoln National Forest

The Spring Cabin has a small porch overhanging the entrance. We pilled the wood up under the porch to try to keep it dry. We still needed water, but with the rain coming we should have plenty before it was over. We staked down the tents and bunkered down ready for rain, but it never came. We still needed water, there was a small amount of lingering snow in the shadow of a fallen tree. We gathered up as much as we could and set it out in the sun to melt. It was hardly a liter. We knew we would need more, before the night was over. Spring Cabin Spring has another release point just a half mile from the Spring Cabin. We decided to head over there in the off chance it was flowing.

We pilled up wood and hung our packs under the Spring Cabin's very small porch

We decided to camp next to the Spring Cabin

We melted snow for water

As we hiked we could see storm clouds forming in the distance, but were distracted by the amazing view from the Crest of the Sacramento Mountains. We stopped to take in the views. When we finally made it to the other spring we weren’t surprised to find it dry as well. The drought had really done a number on the Lincoln's springs. We decided to hike down the small ravine and found a few puddles of water in the rocks. Normally I would avoid stagnant water, but I was confident these puddles were from last nights rain, and I trusted my filter. The few small puddles proved to be more than enough water. We filtered up all the water we could carry and headed back to camp.

Standing on the Crest of the Sacramento Mountains

View from the Sacramento Mountain Crest

Standing on the Crest of the Sacramento Mountains

View from the Sacramento Mountain Crest

Standing on the Crest of the Sacramento Mountains

Finding water in the high altitudes and after such a prolonged drought was a challenge

We filtered what little water we could find

When we got back to camp we could see the storm clouds coming in right on top of us. I had a small tarp that I strung between a couple of trees. This would be our dinner spot tonight. We brought all the dry wood under the tarp with us and started a small fire that we would try to keep going in the rain. Once the fire was going strong we started on dinner, waiting for the rain the whole time. It never rained a drop. We pulled out the cell phone and checked the radar. There were two big storms on either side of us. Somehow we had escaped the rain all the way till nightfall. We hung the bear bag again and climbed into our tents for the night.

Camp Fire under a small tarp, waiting for the rain

We strung a small tarp between two trees to try and keep us out of the rain - but the rain never came.

I woke up early and checked the forecast once more. More rain was in the forecast for the rest of the morning. We quickly packed up the tents while they were still dry. We were on the trail by seven AM. We would head back to the car on the Little Bonito Trail (No. 37). Our original plan was to continue along the Crest Trail to its junction with the Aspen Canyon trail (No. 35) and camp somewhere there along the trail. But the abundance and then lack of water changed our plans.

Little Bonito Trail No. 37

Little Bonito Trail

In the end we had a great time on our short hike along the Turkey Canyon Trail, Crest Trail, and then the Little Bonito Trail. We made it all the way back to the car with out a single drop of rain. Had we found more flowing water sources we could have followed our original plan without fear of rain.

The Hike:
Distance: 9-10 Miles Round Trip
Starting Elevation: 7,668 Feet
Highest Elevation: 9,120 Feet
Elevation Change: 1452 Feet

Map of our two night backpack in Lincoln National Forest

To reach the Argentina/Big Bonito Trailhead and The Turkey Canyon Trailhead from Ruidoso, take US Hwy 48 north approximately 5 miles past the Ruidoso Village limits, to the junction with Highway 37. Turn left onto Highway 37 and go approximately 1 mile to the intersection with Bonito Lake Road (Forest Road 107). Turn left onto Forest Road 107 and follow it approximately 9 miles to the Trailhead located at the end of the road. The road is narrow, but paved until the final 4 miles. The last 4 miles of road consists of improved dirt but is passable by car. About a mile before the Trailhead, the deteriorating road will lead you through the middle of a bunch of dilapidated buildings and pens. Do not let this frightful sight alarm you. Forge straight through the middle of it all and the Argentina/Big Bonito Trailhead is a mile down the road.
Resources:
I highly recommend the Map and Guide book featured below. The map is published by the Lincoln National Forest Service for the White Mountain Wilderness. I use it extensively when hiking in the Lincoln National Forest. Purchase it through this link and help support MyLifeOutdoors.

Should We Care About Trash?

2018-09-13T22:39:00.002-07:00

Just imagine it, you are strolling along a beautiful trail, paddling along some clear river, or just enjoying the great outdoors we love some much... and then it you see it...trash. What can ruin the awesome natural scenes and experiences all around us so quickly? Trash can. Why should you care about trash?

Photo by Daniel Beach

Trash is the one thing that can bring us all together. From the climber, hiker, biker, kayaker, and everyone in between; we all have this one thing in common, trash. Whether we like to admit it or not we all have walked past that little piece of trash on the side of the river or trail that is like the 600lb gorilla in the room, did you do something about it?

Now, I would be the first to admit that although I’m an avid outdoors lover who climbs, bikes, hikes, paddles, and would rather be outside in the rain then anywhere else, I’ve never seen myself as that much of an environmentalist. In general I detest polluting like any good person with a conscience, but have we ever started really caring about the trash?

Why should you care about trash?

1. It takes away from the reason we love the great outdoors.
Why are we drawn outdoors to do what we do? Maybe it’s the adventure, the surroundings, the escape, but we know it’s just not the same with trash. A nice hike to clear the mind can turn into a depressing trot in the woods, all because of pop cans and candy wrappers.

2. It’s just plain bad for the environment.
You don’t have to be an “environmentalist” to agree what this point. Common sense tells us all that trash laying around and piling up probably isn’t really part of the circle of life. Who wants their favorite spot turning into a mini landfill?

3. It’s bad for the wildlife that live and play in nature.
Another great reason we should care about trash is we love all the animals of Sherwood forest. Who doesn’t love birds, rabbits, squirrels, deer, bigfoot?, and fish? I’m not talking about animals walking around with plastic bags over their heads, but animals will be animals and trash is trash.

4. It can take a place we love to visit and make sure we never return.
Think about it, your favorite State Park, then imagine that same place with trash littering the ground. Not the same is it? I think we all take our pristine favorite places a little too much for granted. They will only stay the places they are if we all start caring a little bit more about trash.

What should you do about trash.

It’s actually pretty simple, all we have to do is pick it up. You don’t have to put on a orange jacket and walk the highways with trash bags, all you have to do is make a difference one piece of trash at a time. Next time we are all walking along that trail and we see that wrapper or pop can, one little act of goodness can make a world of difference multiplied by 100 little other acts.

Not only can we feel good about making a small little difference for the next person coming along, we are just doing the right thing when we start caring about trash. Heck, we all may get so carried about we just might join one of the crazy community cleanup events. Interested in carrying more about trash? Stop by Leave No Trace website to get a little more educated about outdoor ethics.

What do you think? Do you pick up trash when you see it? Is it worth it? Does it make a difference?

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Point Sublime - Grand Canyon National Park

2018-09-13T22:36:00.000-07:00

What makes a great campsite? Location, solitude, view? I have spent the night at a few amazing campsites. The greatness of each site seems proportional to how difficult it is to reach. Point Sublime on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park is no different.

Point Sublime at Sunset

My family and I headed out to the Grand Canyon on Memorial Day weekend for my oldest daughters birthday. We knew the weekend would bring in the crowds, and we have seen some of our more popular national parks rival Disney Land on a busy weekend. We didn’t want to mess with the crowds and had heard the remote North Rim receives less than 15% of the park’s visitors. So we made the extra effort to access the North Rim of the park. We spent a few days enjoying the typical sites and points of this amazing park (more on that later). But quickly realized even a small crowd is still a crowd. So in an attempt to find some solitude on one of the busiest weekends of the year, we headed out to remote Point Sublime to spend the night.

Point Sublime

Point Sublime is different than most backcountry campsites I have used. Most sites require packing in your gear on foot, something I enjoy quite a lot. Point Sublime, however, is accessible by car, but that doesn't make it any easier to get to. 18 miles down the poorly maintained Widforss Road. The sign making the way says “Rough Road, High Clearance or 4 Wheel Drive Recommended.” This “recommendation” shouldn’t be taken lightly. While we were at the park two people became stranded attempting to visit Point Sublime. One spent the night at the point only to find down trees blocking the road when they tried to come back. The other attempted to drive the rugged road in a small passenger car. The latter made it a surprising 10 miles to one of the toughest sections of road before eventually getting stuck.

Widforss Road Grand Canyon National Park - High Clearance or 4 wheel drive recommend.

Down Trees are a common occurrence in the backcountry, The Park Service recommends carrying a saw and tow strap when venturing off paved road.

A small car stuck on Widforss Road - This car had no business being out this far.

We checked with the Backcountry Office to find out if the road was open. The ranger said he had been out multiple times that week clearing fallen trees off the road, and that a broken down vehicle was blocking part of the road, but we should be able to access it if we wanted to. He warned us to be prepared to spend extra nights in the event of more fallen trees. We were prepared for nearly every situation and looked forward to getting away from the crowds.

Widforss Road - Grand Canyon National Park

Thick Aspens along Widforss Road - Grand Canyon National Park

Sign for Point Sublime

Parts of Widforss Road hugged the North Rim very closely.

After about 12 miles the Widforss Road begins to hug the canyon rim. There was a small fork in the road that led out to the Crystal Canyon overlook. We hopped out of the car to see this spectacular canyon, and stood on the rim for the first time with no one else around.

Crystal Canyon - Grand Canyon National Park

Me at the Crystal Canyon Overlook

Another six miles down the road we arrived at our final destination just in time for lunch. One other person was occupying one of two sites out on the point. We got out and introduced ourselves to Mark, a nice gentleman from California. Mark showed us some ancient cliff dwellings deep in the canyon behind us. The dwellings were so high and so remote I stood there forever wondering how the natives ever reached them.

Cliff Dwellings in Grand Canyon National Park

We set up camp no more than five feet from the Canyon’s rim, and instead of circling around a campfire we all pointed our camp chairs at the view. As the afternoon progressed two more people joined us out on the point. Ed and Kevin had come out to see the Sunset. Kevin came towing a small Australian pop-up camper and planned to spend the night. This worried us a little. There were only two sites at Point Sublime with three people wanting to camp. Someone, either one of us or the park system, had made a mistake, but no one was going to tell any of the others they had to leave. so we made the best of it and everyone had a spot to sleep that night.

My first view of Point Sublime - Grand Canyon National Park

Point Sublime - Grand Canyon National Park

Our Campsite at Point Sublime - Grand Canyon National Park

The view from our campsite

For a backcountry Campsite, Point Sublime was pretty nice with a very clean compost toilet.

Very clean compost toilet at Point Sublime, be sure to bring your own TP.

We all gathered at the furthest most point to watch the canyon glow warm and red as the sun set below the horizon. We sat feet from the edge staring thousands of feet down to the canyon’s depths, watching as shadows slowly overtook more and more of it. The grander of the canyon cannot be expressed in words. And, although the canyon is very photogenic, pictures cannot capture its vastness. We were surrounded on all sides with deep, breathtaking views, that made you question your own significance. The Grand Canyon is truly something that has to be experienced.

Point Sublime at Sunset - Grand Canyon National Park

Watching the Sun Set at Point Sublime - Grand Canyon National Park

Point Sublime after the sun went down.

I woke up early the next morning to catch the Sunrise. My family opted to sleep in and I expected to be the only one out on the point that morning. When I got there, I found Kevin up early cooking coffee. The two of us sat on the rim talking and watching the light play with the canyon’s shadows. Kevin proved to be a really nice guy, the kind you don’t mind sharing a nice view or remote campsite with. I would later come to need Kevin’s help in a tough situation. Today, I was happy to get to know him better before packing up to leave the Grand Canyon behind. Little did I know, that as I headed out that day my family and I would become stranded in the backcountry.

But thats another story for another post... Read about it here

Point Sublime at Sunrise - Grand Canyon National Park

My new friend Kevin at Point Sublime

Point Sublime at Sunrise

Getting There:
From the Widforss Point Trailhead parking lot, travel west on the dirt road for .3 miles to an intersection and turn left to the Point Sublime primitive road. The road travels through forest and then eventually into a large clearing. At the clearing there is a road that branches to the left or right. Take the right. Continue through the long clearing which ends and the remainder of the trip will be in the forest. At 10.7 miles there is a pullout on the right which affords a nice viewpoint into Crystal Canyon. At 11.3 miles another intersection is encountered; a right at this junction goes to Firepit Swamp Point and a left turn continues to Point Sublime.

GPS File of Point Sublime and Widforss Road (gpx)

Widforss Road - Grand Canyon National Park

Resources:
Maps and Books I used while visiting the Grand Canyon. Purchase them through the links below to support MyLifeOutdoors.

Stranded In The Backcountry - Grand Canyon National Park

2018-09-13T22:29:00.000-07:00

My family and I were deep in the backcountry on a remote forest service road when my tire light came on. We had been driving on some pretty rugged terrain and I knew my tires were taking a beating. I jumped out to check the tire, sure enough, a flat. No big deal, I thought. I’ll just throw on the spare. I told my wife what had happened, and that it might be a while, so her and the girls got out to stretch their legs. I was all ready to pull off the flat tire when my wife said: “Umm, honey. This tire is flat too.”

Two flat tires, miles from nowhere, no cell service, and no one around to help. We were stranded.

A Flat tire in the backcountry, no big deal if you have a spare.

Two flat tires in the backcountry - Now thats a slight problem.

Had I been fully prepared I probably could of handled the situation. If I had a tire plug kit and a DC powered air pump there would be no problem. I had in fact been somewhat prepared in the past. I had bought a simple plug kit and thrown it under the passenger seat and I used to keep a bicycle foot pump in the back. I went to look for the plug kit, but half of it was missing, and the I had taken the pump out more than a year ago. As the situation was, I was really stuck.

We were stuck, but we weren't in any real danger. We had several days worth of food and water, and where loaded to the brim with camping gear. Someone would be along eventually or I could hike out to get help while my family set up camp. But I wasn’t ready to do that yet.

I once saw this Mythbusters where they tested flat tire myths. One myth was about a guy who had a flat and stuffed his tire full of hay. As I remember the show, they tested it and found that it actually worked pretty well. I thought it was worth a try so I got the girls out of the car and had them start cutting pine needles. I cut a slit in the sidewall of one of the flats and began stuffing it full of pine needles. It was going pretty well and I was beginning to believe it was actually going to work when Kevin pulled up.

I didn't know if my little knife could cut through the sidewall. It was a lot easier than I had thought.

I had to make a pretty good sized slit to make enough room for the pine needles.

I shoved pine needles into the tire for a good hour or more.

We had met Kevin the night before out at Point Sublime on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. That very morning Kevin and I watched the Sun rise as it painted light on the canyon walls. Both of us had plans to go see Fire Point, another remote point in Grand Canyon National Park. It was leaving Fire Point when I had the flats. I knew there was a possibility that Kevin would come out the same way, but there was no way to be certain. When I saw him pull up, I was very thankful.

Kevin to the Rescue

Fire Point - Grand Canyon National Park

I told him I had been stuffing pine needles into my tire for the past hour or so. He seemed very intrigued by the idea. He, on the other hand, was prepared with an intact plug kit and DC air pump. I was a little disappointed. I really wanted to see if the the pine needles would work. But I knew I needed to use the plug kit instead. With Kevin’s help I had the tire plugged in no time. We poured soapy water over the tire to check for other leaks. Sure enough there was one more. We plugged that one two and were ready to go.

Plugging a tire with Kevin's help

Plugging the one tire I didn't cut a slit into.

Kevin followed me out to make sure we didn’t have any problems. The Plugs held all the way to Kanap Utah where I had two new tires put on and had to do a little explaining why one was full of pine needles. On the way home I picked up an air pump and plug kit, which means I’ll probably never get the chance to try pine needles ever again. Oh well. If you ever try it. I would like to hear about it.

My tire at a tire shop in Kanap UT. The guys there were intrigued by the idea and through it would have worked. Sigh

This whole ordeal taught me you can never be too prepared. As I said before, we were never in any real danger, but had the circumstances been a little different, we could have been. It just goes to show you should never venture beyond what your abilities or equipment can handle. I owe Kevin a huge thank you. Resources:

Maps and Books I used while visiting the Grand Canyon. Purchase them through the links below to support MyLifeOutdoors.

Gros Piton Summit Hike - St Lucia - The Caribbean

2018-09-13T22:26:00.000-07:00

What is the hardest hike you have ever attempted? Mine was a little 2 mile day hike that I thought I would knock out in a couple of hours. Some friends and I were on the Island of St. Lucia doing some mission work. We had arranged for a friend to take us up Gros Piton early one morning.

Gros Piton from the World Heritage Monument

Gros Piton and its little sister Petit Ption are Caribbean land marks. Two volcanic spires jutting over 2000 feet out of the ocean. Both can be climbed, although petit piton is probably very technical. Gros Piton, on the other hand, has a trail leading all the way to the top. Our friend, who lives on the island, had climbed several times before and promised an experience of a lifetime.

We arrived in the little town of Fond Gens Libre parked the rental car, and started up the paved walkway to the trailhead. We were stopped by several townspeople speaking creole. Our friend chatted for a moment and we continued only to be stopped again. After awhile our friend informed us we would not be allowed to go without a guide, but because we had arrived so early in the morning, none where awake yet. Finally one young lady agreed to take us for $30 US per person.

A small cottage in the town of Fond Gens Libre with Gros Piton in the background

A local girl in Fond Gens Libre

We had killed a lot of time waiting for our guide and had other obligations latter in the day. Our friend told the guide we were in a hurry, and this is when things became tough. Our young guide sprinted up the rough and rocky trail as if she had been doing this everyday for the last 8 years. Turns out she had. I managed to keep up for the first half mile when we finally stopped for a break. My head was pounding and I could tell I couldn’t keep this pace up much longer.

A sign near the head of the trail

The trail surface is extremely rocky through the majority of the hike

We had climbed about 600 vertical feet to the first view along the trail. I looked down to a beautiful little cove along the shoreline below. I struggling to catch my breath when the guide urged us to continue. I was only a quarter of the way to the top and was already struggling. This did not boad well. Most of the trail is shaded by tree coverage. In fact there are only 3 points along the trail where one can catch a view. One at the first half mile. One at the half way point. and one at the summit. All of these (I believe) have been cleared by the locals to create viewpoints. The rest of the trail is covered by very thick vegetation. This was the other part of my problem.

The first view along the trail - A small island cove

The entire trail is surrounded by very thick vegetation

St. Lucia is very humid (unlike anything I have experienced before). The thick vegetation blocks any hope for a breeze. We stayed very hot the entire time we hiked. Before I had made it half way I was literally drenched in my own sweat. Another new experience for me. Never before had I been this wet on a hike, not even in a pouring rain. My quick drying clothes were useless in the high humidity and the short nature of our breaks never allowed me to stop sweating. It must be something the locals get used to, because our friend and the guide hardly seem to sweat at all.

A beautiful natualy occurring vine called wandering root. you find it along the first half of the Gros Piton trail

Our young St. Lucian Guide

At the half way point you get the first view of Petit Piton. At this point you have made your way half way around the base of the mountain but only about a third of the way up. From there you follow the western ridge one mile to the top and another 1300+ feet up. The trail begins to climb at a very steep incline. Our guide told us we were half way there...I was tired, wet and worn out...but I thought...If this is already half way...I can make it to the top. Half way is very deceiving...the hardest part of the hike was yet to come.

Our first view of Petit Piton at the half way point.

We continued under thick tree coverage for another half mile. The hike was wearing on a young lady of our group who began to throw up off the side of the trail. I asked her if she was okay and she said, with tears in her eyes, “much better now!” A half mile or so from the top there is a very old (some 300+ years) Mango Tree. There is a small bench made of bamboo where you can rest for a short wile before the final push to the top.

Thick vegetation near the summit of Gros Piton

A 300 year old Mango tree about a half mile from the summit. It no longer produces mangos.

The last half mile feels straight up and there were times I thought I should give up. I can honestly say I have never thought this before on a hike, no matter the difficulty. Looking back on the hike I believe the incline of the trail combined with the heat, humidity, and our quick pace is what made this such a difficult hike. I really would have liked to have taken my time and enjoyed the hike a little more.

Locals have built bamboo ladders at more difficult spots on the trail

Before long we were at the top. As you round the top of the summit all the thoughts of how hard you have been working go away as you take in the views of island. We stayed on the top for a short time before hiking over to another view point on the far north side just below the summit. The views were absolutely breathtaking.

The summit of Gros Piton - St. Lucia

Summit View - Gros Piton St. Lucia

Me on the summit of Gros Piton

Gros Piton summit view

Petit Piton viewed from just below the summit

Island view from Gros Piton

A fellow climber on the summit of Gros Piton

We started back down and all the memories of who hard of a hike this is came flooding back to us. Our knees ached under the steep descents, but as usual the way down proved faster than up. All in all it was an unforgettable hike. If you ever find yourself in St. Lucia...you really should take the time to do it.

Gros Piton valley looking east from the base of Gros Piton

Gros Piton Trail

Gros Piton Trail Elevation Profile

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Johnson Lake - Backpacking in the Pecos Wilderness, New Mexico

2018-09-13T22:14:00.001-07:00

Three alpine lakes in four days. Thats all anyone had to say to convince me to spend a week in New Mexico’s Pecos Wilderness. We had been planning a guys trip since January. Our goal was to hit Johnson’s lake, swing down to Stewart Lake, and finish it off with the Grand Finale: Lake Katharine and 13,600 foot Santa Fe Baldy.

Johnsons Lake - Pecos Wilderness, NM

Pecos Wilderness

We made the eight hour drive from Midland to Pecos NM, on Sunday July 29th. Since we had spent so much time in the car we decided to only hike in a short distance before picking a campsite. On the map it looked like the Caves on Cave Creek was about a mile in a half from the trailhead. We planned to camp there, but soon found the topography in the area unsuitable for a good nights sleep. We hiked in another couple of miles before finally finding a decent flat spot. That night we slept to the sound of two small mountain streams. It was going to be a good week.

Cave Creek

The Caves on Cave Creek

Inside the caves on cave creek. Water was flowing out of the creek and deep into the caves. We didn't go in but for just a few feet.

Crossing Cave Creek

As it turns out it was a good thing we hiked the extra miles that day. The climb to Johnson's Lake the next morning proved exhausting, but the view of the lake was worth every step. We took off our packs and took in the views of the majestic lake. First order of business was to find a good campsite. We walked a ways around the lake until we found some higher ground with some good flat spots. We set up camp and went to enjoy the lake.

Cut off to Johnson Lake

Hiking up to Johnsons Lake

Johnson Lake

Finding a good campsite at Johnson lake

Setting up camp. You can barley see the lake in the background through the trees.

Looking back at camp from the lake

Several from our group had come just for the fishing. It didn’t take long before the fly reels where casting in the clean mountain air. I went to snap some pictures just as a cut throat trout snagged a fly. We would be eating fish tonight.

Fishing at Johnson Lake - Pecos Wilderness NM

Cut Throat Trout from Johnson Lake

Frying up fish at Johnson Lake - Pecos Wilderness

After awhile the fish stopped biting. The water was so clear we could see them as they swam up to the flies, only to turn away in disgust. With no more fishing to be had, a few of us decided to take a swim. The water was freezing even in the middle of August, but the swim was refreshing none the less.

Swiming in Johnson Lake

That night we slept well under the stars. The next morning was going to be a long day. We planned to hike down to Stewart and then up to Lake Katharine (More on that coming Soon). It was a great start to a great trip.

Map to Johnson Lake

Johnson Lake Elevation Profile

Resources:
I highly recommend the Map and Guide book featured below. The map is published by the Santa Fe National Forest Service for the Pecos Wilderness Area. I use it extensively when hiking in the Lincoln National Forest. Purchase it through this link and help support MyLifeOutdoors.

The Hike:
7 Miles One Way
Starting Elevation: 8312 Feet
Ending Elevation: 11,088 Feet
Elevation Change: 2,776
GPS File: (GPX Format)

Getting There:
Panchuela Trailhead: 22 miles north of Pecos on NM 63: 35°49'45.35"N 105°39'25.27"W
Caves: 35°50'53.44"N 105°41'22.54"W
Johnson Lake: 35°51'16.67"N 105°44'9.28"W

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10 Tips for Toddler Trail Training - My WIFE Outdoors

2018-09-13T22:10:00.002-07:00

1. Start em young. This won't really help you if you are just now starting out with a toddler wanting to hike. That will be a more difficult experience ... but manageable. We put little R in the pack as soon as she was safely able to go, We had even done little short hikes with a Moby wrap when she was younger. Her first all day hike was when she was 5 months old.

Little R when she was just 5 months old

2. Keep it Short. I wouldn't try to undertake a twelve hour hike the very first trip. It is important to realize that your endurance level is not the same as a small child. Although they aren't doing any real work, sitting in a pack for hours on end can be very uncomfortable.

3. Splurge on a great Pack. We use the Deuter Kid Comfort 2. It was not a cheap purchase but well worth it! She sits comfortably inside the carrier and can now hike for an entire day without complaining of discomfort. Occasionally I like to switch things up. When she was younger and too small to fit in the Deuter Kid Comfort 2, I would use a Moby Wrap and front carry her. Sometimes if we are going on a short hike and we don't need the storage that the Deuter offers I like to back carry her in my Ergo. To be honest I prefer my Ergo over the Deuter, Steven disagrees though, I feel like she is closer to my body and I have better balance. The downside is that the Ergo is not hydration compatible and if it is hot she makes me sweaty! The upside is that she is very snuggly and sometimes she gives me kisses!

4. Stop Often. You have to plan for this. Most packs recommend stopping every hour to let them stretch and regain circulation. Again, you might be feeling fine and ready to concur the next few miles without stopping. Realize that a break now might save you a meltdown later!

5. Dress them in the right clothes. We try to keep little R in comfortable layers. You also have to keep in mind that they aren't exerting as much energy as you, which means they aren't getting as hot. Put one layer more on your little one than you are wearing. Account for wind and sun. We always keep R in soft cottony clothes. You don't want to have any kind of ties or buttons that might cause them discomfort. Bring a hat and jacket. We also try to bring a change of clothes just in case. It adds extra weight but you never know when you will have a diaper blowout or another such accident.

6. Let them enjoy the wildlife. Whether it is stopping to hold a Great Horned Lizard or hand them a pretty leaf you found on the trail, it is important to involve your little one in the process. Let them play with some snow you found on the trail and enjoy the moment.

7. Let them walk a little while. We have begun letting our two year old walk the flat parts of the trail. This gives her some time to stretch her legs and is preparing her for the endurance of future hikes. She can't ride in the pack forever!"

8. Check out the trail. This is my husbands job. Listen up men! If you want to make your wives (a whole separate blog ...consider this piece of advice a freebie) and kiddos love hiking ...make sure that they are comfortable. The key to making hikes work for your family is to make sure your family can handle what lies around. Avoid trails that require bushwhacking or scrambling. We once spent a great deal of time bushwhacking and ducking in and out high brush on a hike. It is to this day the worst hike I have ever been on. We had to worry constantly about sticks and twigs poking R's eyes Out or scratching her. Scrambles are also tough. You don't want to get yourself in a bad situation where you may fall on the little person who is riding on your back. If you don't think you can handle the trail ahead, turn back! Never force your children to press on if they are struggling or uncomfortable.

9. Pack with Purpose. Think of everything that could possibly go wrong and plan for it! You do this with yourself but remember to do this for your little one too. Chances are they will have a very different set of needs than you do! Here are a few items that we pack just for little R:

A small receiving blanket. You might need it to provide extra warmth on a windy summit or to wedge between them and the pack to prevent chafing.
Small sacks for diapers, wet wipes, (thrown up on clothes, etc.)

Extra diapers.

Wet Wipes

Extra Clothes. It will add unwanted weight but you should bring an entire change of clothes. Babies are prone to accidents and you don't want to hike down a chilly trail with a naked baby.

Hat, Gloves, Jacket. Even if you think it is too warm for you to need them. Unless you are hiking in an area like Big Bend in May - August. We have found ourselves worrying about a cold baby in Palo Duro Canyon in April.

Extra Water. They will need to stay hydrated too.

Appropriate Snacks. Young children can't eat typical trail fare like nuts. You might have to think outside the box for toddler friendly trail treats. Some of R's favorites are those squeezable applesauces, grapes, and crackers. The trail is never a time to tryout a new food. For one, they may end up hating it and you will have carried it for nothing. For two, they might be allergic to the new food...and hiking on an isolated trail is not an ideal place to deal with that issue.

Baby safe sunscreen and bug repellant. Apply sunscreen liberally. Also think about areas where their clothing may creep up while riding in the pack. Poor R has suffered many of sunburn because her shirt rode up and a tiny bit of tummy was peaking out unbeknownst to us!

10. Think ahead. Prepare them for the trip you are on but also prepare them (and yourself) for future trips. Steven and I have a goal of getting our girls up a fourteener next year. We have already begun to prepare ourselves and our girls for this endeavor. This kind of thinking ahead will help diversify your hiking trips and will give you and your family something exciting to work on while you can't be on the trail!

I am not a professional so this is Just advice from a Mommy. I am sure I have forgotten something, so feel free to add to the list if you can think of something! My biggest advice is to have fun, take loads of pictures. and build lasting memories!

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Lake Katharine - Backpacking Pecos WIlderness - New Mexico

2018-09-13T22:08:00.001-07:00

This is part two of our 4 day hike in the Pecos Wilderness - New Mexico. Read Part One - Hiking to Lake Johnson.

My heart is pounding, my feet ache, and I’m starting to doubt there is a lake up here at all. We feel like we have been hiking all day and the constant incline of the trail seems as if it will never let up. But just as we begin to think we should camp for the night...Lake Katharine comes into view, and she is amazing.

Lake Katharine - Pecos Wilderness NM

That morning we broke camp and left Lake Johnson behind. During the hike we would descend nearly 900 feet only to go back up another 1500 feet. It would be a tough but rewarding day as we would see two more Alpine lakes. Lake Stewart and Lake Katharine.

Lake Johnson - Pecos Wilderness NM

Hiking along the SkyLine Trail (#251) Pecos Wilderness

We started down Skyline Trail (#251) toward Lake Stewart. Going down always seems easy and we traveled the 3 miles in no time arriving at the lake by mid morning. We had some friends who hiked in with us the day before but didn’t feel up to the climb that was Lake Johnson's. Instead the pushed ahead to Lake Stewart and had spent the night there. We stopped for awhile and visited with them as they fished in low alpine lake.

SkyLine Trail #251 Pecos Wilderness NM

Looking out across Lake Stewart we could see Santa Fe Baldy and the small bowl that hid Lake Katharine. Thats were we would be spending the night tonight. She was calling us, so we said goodbye to our friends and continued down trail 251 to the Winsor Trail Junction. Throughout most of this section the trail is relatively flat between the Winsor and the Lake Johnson Junction.

Small pond just before lake Stewart

Lake Stewart with Santa Fe Baldy high above.

At the Winsor Junction Trial 251 turns west and begins the steep climb up to Lake Katharine. In a little less than a mile the trail climbs most of the 1500 foot rise. We started off strong excited about the promised beauty of Lake Katharine. As we arrived at the next Junction we began to worry. The Forrest Service map was not lining up with what we were seeing on the GPS. We were tuckered out after climbing up a steep trail only to worry it was the wrong way. The trail we were on was not on any maps except my GPS. We discussed going back and looking for the trail on the Forest Service Map. No one wanted to loose elevation we had already gained. So we decided to carry on down the mystery trail. If my GPS was right it would eventually lead us to Lake Katharine.

Water Crossing along SkyLine Trail 251 - Pecos Wilderness NM

Hiking toward Lake Katharine - SkyLine Trail Pecos Wilderness NM

As it turns out the Forest Service changed the trails but never changed the map. The only way to know the difference was by GPS or really good orienteering skills. When we left Lake Katharine later that week we decided to try the old trail. It was a mistake. The forest service abandoned it long ago evidenced by the massive number of downed trees. If you head to lake Katharine follow the signs for Trail 251, you will save your self a lot of effort.

When you see this sign be sure to take the SkyLine Trail (#251). The Forest Service Map will make it look like you can get there along Winsor Trail 254. Don't go that way.

As we began to near the lake basin fatigue had really set in. The climb had completely worn us out and we were beginning to wonder if we would ever get there. Just before the Lake a small pond appears on the right side of the trail. The pond seemed so inviting and required no more climbing. We thought about just camping there so we wouldn’t have to keep going. Later we discovered there was a couple camped by the pond. They thought it was lake Katharine and set up camp on the shore. We told them they were in for a surprise. Just around the corner was the real lake Katharine. One of the prettiest alpine lakes I have ever had the pleasure of viewing.

Small Pond below Lake Katharine - Pecos Wilderness NM

When we finally arrived at Katharine we were so tired we unstrapped the packs and set up camp in the first level spot we could find. After we rested a short bit we hiked around the back side of the lake. We should have kept going. The best campsites were around to the west end of the lake.

Arriving at Lake Katharine - Pecos Wilderness NM

Lake Katharine - Pecos Wilderness NM

Our Campsite right next to the lake

One of the most disgusting meals I have ever eaten.

Campsite Visitor begging for food

We spent the afternoon taking in the beauty of the lake. We were the only ones there (for now) and we were enjoying nature at her best. The next day we would summit Santa Fe Baldy and see a whole new side of Katharine But that is another story for another time.

Lake Katharine - Pecos Wilderness NM

High Alpine Meadow behind Lake Katharine.

Sun coming through the trees at our campsite.

Read about the first part of this hike - Hiking to Lake Johnson

The Hike:
Starting Elevation: 11,091 Feet
Mid-Point Elevation: 10,232 Feet
Ending Elevation: 11, 742
Elevation Change: Down 859 feet, Up 1510 feet
Distance: 6.4 miles

Getting There:
Lake Johnson: 35°51'16.67"N 105°44'9.28"W
Lake Stewart: 35°49'52.72"N 105°43'27.36"W
Lake Katharine: 35°50'4.73"N 105°45'1.97"W

Lake Johnson to lake Katharine - Pecos Wilderness NM.
You can see where our route differs from the mapped trail leading up to lake katharine.

Elevation Profile Lake Johnson to Lake Katharine - Pecos Wilderness NM

Santa Fe Baldy and Lake Katharine - 12,622 feet - Pecos Wilderness New Mexico

2018-09-13T08:50:00.002-07:00

This is part three of our 4 day hike in the Pecos Wilderness - New Mexico. Read Part One - Hiking to Lake Johnson. and Part Two - Lake Katharine.

What is it about water we find so amazing. We are drawn to it in nature in all its forms. Low lying fog, sun shining through morning dew, a mountain stream or an alpine lake. No matter what form it takes, water fascinates us. An amazing view is made that much more amazing when water is present. Spending one night at Lake Katharine in the Pecos Wilderness of New Mexico and I was in love. Little did I know just how amazing she truly was.

Lake Katharine from the summit of Santa Fe Baldy

We woke up early. The sun was just beginning to kiss the top of the ridge surrounding Lake Katharine. Our plan was to summit 12,600 foot Santa Fe Baldy towering high above the lake. A trail lead to the south away from the lake and eventually around the rim to the summit. But that wasn’t the path for us. The day before we had met an old timer camping on the backside of the lake. He recommended bushwhacking up the north ridge circling around to Santa Fe Baldy. He promised we would shave at least 2 miles off our hike and see outstanding views. His suggestion intrigued us, so we set off toward the north rim.

Lake Katharine in the early morning.

To reach a incline that was gradual enough for hiking we had to lose a lot of elevation. Which we really didn't want to do. Instead we had the great idea to cut diagonally across a large boulder field. It was a mistake, The boulders were large, lose, and prone to sliding. We couldn’t get out of there fast enough.

Hiking across a dangerous boulder field.

As we began to climb the north ridge, Lake Katharine really began to show her beauty. The views from the ridge were breathtaking, made all the more magnificent with Katharine in view. We couldn’t stop taking pictures, it seemed every few feet provided yet another spectacular angle.

Bushwhacking up the north rim around Lake Katharine. The climb was very steep.

We began to get our first views of Lake Katharine from these breathtaking vantages.

Taking in the views from atop the ridge

Looking down on our campsite from high above on the ridge

Lake Katharine and Santa Fe Baldy

Once on the ridge the hiking was easy. Large alpine meadows extend as far as we could see. Half way around the ridge we began to see marmots on the rocks. One Marmot tried to hide in plain sight, staying completely still, believing he blended with his surroundings.
We made it to the summit without much trouble. We spent an hour or so taking in the views and calling our wives with the small amount of cell service the altitude afforded us.

High Alpine Meadows on the Ridge Surrounding Lake Katharine

A Marmot who thought he was invisible

Santa Fe Baldy

Distant Mountain Views from the summit of Santa Fe Baldy

Looking down on Lake Katharine from the Summit of Santa Fe Baldy

Our Group on Santa Fe Baldy Summit

We decided to take the trail back to camp. The single track looked so appealing cut among the tall alpine grass. Plus we knew it would be much safer decline than our route up. We made it back to camp and sat down along the shore of the beautiful lake. We would rest a few hours before eventually packing up camp and leaving it all behind.

Lake Katharine from above

Heading back down the beaten path

Santa Fe Baldy Trail

Lake Stewart barely visible from the summit of Santa Fe Baldy

Single Track inviting us back down the mountain

Approaching TreeLine

Lake Katharine Pecos Wilderness New Mexico

Lake Katharine

Santa Fe Baldy Trail

Heading back down the Trail

Resources:
I highly recommend the Map and Guide book featured below. The map is published by the Santa Fe National Forest Service for the Pecos Wilderness Area. I use it extensively when hiking in the Lincoln National Forest. Purchase it through this link and help support MyLifeOutdoors.

The Hike:
Starting Elevation: 11,742 feet
Ending Elevation: 12,622 feet
Elevation Gain: 880 feet
Distance: 4.3 Miles Round Trip

Getting There:
Lake Katharine: 35°50'4.73"N 105°45'1.97"W
Santa Fe Baldy: 35°49'55.54"N 105°45'29.48"W

Map of our path around the Santa Fe Baldy rim

Santa Fe Baldy Elevation Profile

Fall Colors and The National Park Foundation

2018-09-13T08:45:00.001-07:00

As fall progresses and the leaves begin to change color, I have noticed a lot of talk about the best places to view fall color. In Texas these places are rare, as the trees that create the best and brightest colors are few and far between. There are, however, a handful of places in Texas, known for their beautiful fall display. Probably the hardest to get to, and the least well known is McKittrick Canyon in Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

If you have been around MyLifeOutdoors for a while then you know I am no stranger to this park. I consider myself one of the few lucky Texans that lives close enough to our rugged mountain ranges that I can visit them frequently, yet far enough away that I am still a member of society.

In the fall, McKittrick Canyon becomes a beautiful display of fall color unlike any other in Texas. Over the last couple of years I have been blessed to see the Guadalupes around this time of year when the leaves begin to change. I wanted to share this experience with as many people as possible and reached out to the National Park Foundation with a guest post about the Guadalupe's and McKittrick Canyon. They accepted my post and have published it on their blog. I now have the honor of being one of their official Bloggers.

If you are interested in reading about hidden McKittrick Canyon and the beautiful fall colors head over to their blog and take a look. If you feel so inclined please share the post on your social networks for more to enjoy.

You can do that here (before you even read the article) by clicking on the buttons below.

RikSak by Gossamer Gear - Review

2018-09-13T08:36:00.004-07:00

I was planning a 4 night backpacking trip in the Pecos Wilderness when some friends and I began talking about summit packs. Our plan was to spend two nights at beautiful Lake Katharine and summit Santa Fe Baldy while we were there. Since camp would already be set up, there was no need to take a huge pack with me to the summit.

Many years ago I did and overnight trip with a friend to Guadalupe Peak. When we got ready to Summit, he pulled out a small stuff sack made by Lowe Alpine. But this wan’t any ordinary stuff sack, it had shoulder straps so it could be used as a small daypack. I was very impressed with the design and multi use features. That little daypack/stuff sack stuck in my head for years.

Gossamer Gear RikSak

So when my friends and I started talking summit packs it immediately came to mind. I began scouring the internet to see if I could find one. I never found the Lowe Alpine pack, but I did find the RikSak by Gossamer Gear. I had heard a lot of good things about Gossamer Gear. Many of the bloggers I follow on a regular basis are Gossamer Gear Trail Ambassadors. An honor I desire myself, but I guess I’m not ultra-light enough :-(.

I ordered the RikSak off their website for $30 in just enough time for my trip. When it came in the mail I was immediately struck by how light it is. 2.2 ounces on my postal scale, but it feels even lighter than that in your hand. I was also struck by how wide the shoulder straps are. At 3 1/4 inches they are the widest straps on any pack I have ever owned. I’m not completely sure of the reason behind this, I assume the thick straps help disperse weight across your shoulders. A nice feature on a pack with no hip-belt support.

Gossamer Gear is Made in the USA

When not used as a summit/day pack, the RikSak is a useful stuff sack. I like stuff sacks and use several to organize my gear inside my pack. At 15 liters the RikSak is one of my larger stuff sacks, but it proved useful in packing away my mid layers and extra clothes. At night I strung it up as a bear bag with all my food inside. Gossamer Gear’s website also suggests use as a pillow, which is an idea I hadn’t though of. When in my pack I turn the RikSak inside out so that the shoulder straps are protected inside the sack. I don't want them getting snagged on other gear when I fish it out of my pack.

Gossamer Gear RikSak in action

On summit day the RikSak really shined. I was amazed at all the things I could comfortably carry. I had a first-aid kit, lunch, snacks, rain gear, Spot Locator, GPS and camera. I even threw in my 3 liter Camelbak (only about half full). I clipped the bladder onto the top of the sack, pulled the tube out through the top, and pulled the drawstring down tight. At first I thought I was going to be fighting the Cabelbak inside the pack all day, but it never gave me any problems. It worked just like a pack designed to be bladder compatible.

Gossamer Gear RikSak

Gossamer Gear really knows how to get the most out of their designs. One nice feature added onto the RikSack is the dual purpose sternum strap. It consists of a simple buckle on the lose ends of the adjustable shoulder straps. Throw the RikSak on your back, pull the shoulder straps as tight as you want them, then fold the lose ends inward and buckle them together. The only downside of this design is how low the strap comes across your chest. Its seems more like a high belly strap then a sternum strap. But who’s complaining? It does the job, If they would have added an adjustable sternum strap it would have added more weight, which defeats the purpose of the RikSak to begin with.

All in all the RikSak is an amazing, light weight, multi-purpose, day pack, that has earned a permeant place among my gear. Anytime you need a lightweight daypack, There is no reason not to bring it along. Good work Gossamer Gear.

I wasn't the only one interested in the RikSak

Klymit Inertia X Frame Sleeping Pad Review

2018-09-13T08:29:00.004-07:00

I’m a skeptic, and I’m a gear head. So when I had the opportunity to test and review the Kymit Inertia X Frame, I jumped at the opportunity. From the first time I saw the X Frame I had a hard time believing it would be comfortable. In my mind, the X Frame was for ultraIight junkies that cared more about saving ounces than being comfortable. While I do like saving ounces, I have never been one to sacrifice comfort. I was the perfect candidate for an X Frame review.

Klymit Inertia X Frame

When I first received my X Frame I took it out of the box and aired it up for an initial test on my living room floor. I was impressed with how quickly the X Frame inflated. Five deep breaths and the pad was inflated. This is a great improvement over my trusted Therm-a-rest Neoair which makes me feel like I am going to pass out every time I inflate it.

Klymit X Frame Sleeping Pad

I laid the X Frame down on my tiled floor and tested it out. On flat even terrain it seemed promising. I could lay on my back, side, and chest and still feel comfortable. I noticed position and comfort were relative to how inflated the pad was. On my back or chest the X Frame was more comfortable with less air. When on my side the X Frame needed more air to remain comfortable. This was easily accomplished with the quick adjust pump. While laying on the pad I could easily reach up and squeeze the bulb pump a few times to add more air. If I switched to my back I could squeeze the small release button to let out small amounts of air. This proved a nice feature in the backcounty when I found myself switching positions frequently.

Klymit X Frame bulb pump

Now it was time for the true test. I took the X Frame to the Capitan Wilderness, New Mexico in early November. Temperatures dropped into the 30’s as I slept on uneven terrain. I searched and searched for as flat as a campsite as possible but none could be found. I finally settled on a level, but lumpy campsite that would give the X Frame a real test. As I slept on and off through the night I was surprised that I couldn’t feel the lumpy grass clumps under my bed. No matter how I laid I couldn’t tell the ground was lumpy. I was impressed, but I still didn’t sleep well. Was this the fault of the pad or the wind beating my tent all through the night?

In the backcountry I opted to slide the X Frame inside my sleeping bag. The X Frame advertises the missing sections of pad as “loft pockets.” The loft pockets supposedly allow your bag’s insulation to retain its loft even under the weight of your body. This results in added warmth. Insulation is worthless when compressed. When I slid the X Frame into my bag I didn’t see much loft when compared to the picture on the pad’s box. But I stayed plenty warm throughout the night in my 20 degree down bag. The loft pockets seemed to be doing their job.

Klymit X Frame in my sleeping bag

Inside my bag I found the X Frame less comfortable on my chest and my side. The bag restricted arm placement which made the X Frame less comfortable. In my living room I payed no mind to where I was placing my arms and the X Frame was comfortable in any position. In the sleeping bag the X frame was only comfortable when my arms where straight down by my sides. On my back this was no problem. I could even fold my hands across my stomach and still be comfortable. When on my chest I couldn’t get comfortable unless my arms where straight down by my sides. This proved to be a somewhat awkward sleeping position. Sleeping on my side was the worse. I had a hard time positioning the pad so that the middle support was directly under my hips. As I flipped over in my bag the pad tended to slide out from under me leaving me sleeping with no pad. Even when I managed to get the pad under me properly my arm positions were a problem. My arms were constantly losing circulation and “falling asleep.” I cannot decisively say this was the fault of the pad other than the fact that I never remember having this problem before.

I hardly ever sleep with a pillow in the backcountry. I don’t like to carry the extra weight. Once again, without a pillow, I found the X Frame only comfortable when on my back. The head support was uncomfortable against my head when on my side or chest. I ended up shoving a fleece jacket in the bag with me to use as a pillow. I have never felt the need to do this before.

For Ultralights, what the X Frame lacks in comfort it makes up in weight and size. The X frame is the smallest and lightest full length sleeping pad I have ever seen. Even with the bulb pump the rolled up X Frame is about as small as a coke can. It weighs just 10.6 ounces with the bulb and 9.1 without. At first I didn’t think it had much improvement over my Therm-a-rest NeoAir. But scale read outs showed the X Frame was a full 3 ounces lighter than the NeoAir Xlight (13.6 ounces), and smaller too. The X Frame’s material seems more robust and less prone to puncture over the NeoAir. If you are a ounce pincher the X Frame is the clear winner.

Klymit X Frame side by side with Therm-a-rest NeoAir XLight

As for me, I’m not sure the X Frame has replaced my Therm-a-rest NeoAir. As I mentioned before, I have never been one to sacrifice comfort to save a few ounces. The X Frame may, however, become my go to pad for cold weather as I do believe the loft pockets kept me warmer than my NeoAir ever has. All in all I give the X Frame Three and a Half out of Five stars. The only con being comfort on my chest and side.

Do you want a chance to use the Klymit X Frame yourself? You have the opportunity to win one (along with a ton of other gear) in our Outdoor Winter Giveaway.

Hillsound Trail Crampon and Trail Crampon Pro - Review

2018-09-13T08:23:00.000-07:00

Its getting cold and snow is beginning to cover the trails. Most casual hikers have stored their boots away for warmer seasons. But a few diehards will continue to hike the trails regardless of their condition. If you find yourself in this latter group you know the importance of good traction on icy and snowy trails.v The options are endless. It seems like everyone has some form of light crampon available for winter hikes. Hillsound, however, is a company that stands out from the rest. Specializing in non technical crampons they have a solution for nearly every application.

Hillsound Trail Crampon Pro (Left) and Trail Crampon (Right)

Last spring I was honored to test and review the Hillsound Trail Crampon and Trail Crampon Pro. My family and I headed out to southern New Mexico to catch the last open weekend at our nearest ski slope. Mother nature had a different plan and warm weather forced the slopes to close early. We made the best of the situation and decided to hike the nearby trails. There may not have been enough snow to ski, but 5 foot drifts still covered some of the trails. It proved perfect conditions for testing out the Hillsound Trail Crampons.

Hillsound Trail Crampon

As we started up the trail I pulled on the Trail Crampons. Light weight crampons held on by rubber stretched across the boot and an added velcro strap over the toe. The Stretched rubber is pretty standard for this type of crampon. What stood out for me was the hardware underneath. Unlike other light crampons I’v used, heavy duty chains connect to spike plates underneath the boot. This design prevents any rubber (the weakest link) from contacting the trail, making for some very durable crampons. There are 11 half inch points, which are are larger than most I have seen. The spikes are separated on to two metal plates, one at the back of the boot with four points, the other at the front with seven points. The front plate is hinged allowing for the natural flex of the boot without compromising traction. This design produces a light, non technical, crampon that is very durable and easy to use.

You can see the chains, rubber attachments, and velcro straps on the Hillsound Trail Crampons

Hillsound Trail Crampons

Hillsound Trail Crampon Toe

It was a warm spring day in the mountains of New Mexico. The lingering snow had spent weeks melting in the mid day sun only to freeze again at night, producing hard icy pack. As usual I had my two year old daughter with me in the kid carrier. hiking over packed ice and snow with her on my back could have been very hazardous, but the Hillsound Trail Crampons gave me confidence. I hiked steadily enjoying the early spring with my family in tow.

Hiking on snow with my two year old using the Hillsound Trail Crampons

Hillsound Trail Crampon Back

Hillsound Trail Crampon

Higher up the mountain we began to encounter deeper and and longer banks of snow and ice. My family had a hard time continuing, so I took the opportunity to test out the Hillsound Trail Crampon Pro. The Trail Crampon Pro has the look and feel of a full technical crampon. With slightly smaller points (one inch) and intended to work with any boot (not just rigid mountaineering boots) they are reserved for non technical use. The Trail Crampon Pro are a ten point crampons that attach to the boot by two ratcheting straps that form an x over the top of the boot. This design allows a tight fit without undue pressure on sensitive areas. The straps come with four “Alpine Stoppers” that secure under the buckles to prevent the release of the straps in deep snow. The spike plates are separated front and back with a sliding adjuster allowing use with almost any boot size. Once adjusted to fit your boot the crampons can be locked down with an allen wrench screw under the heal plate. Both heal and toe plates have anti balling pads to prevent the build up of snow underfoot.

Hillsound Trail Crampon Pro

Double Strap X Design of the Hillsound Trail Crampon Pro

The Red Alpine Stopper that prevents unwanted release of the crampon straps

Hillsound Trail Crampon Pro

Hillsound Trail Crampon Pro Toe

Hillsound Trail Crampon Pro

A little more than most people need, the Hillsound Trail Crampon Pro is perfect for the avid hiker who pushes the limits of non technical winter climbs. I give the Hillsound Trail Crampon and Trail Crampon Pro four and a half out of five stars.

Want to win a pair Hillsound Crampons. Check back this Thursday for our Outdoor Winter Giveaway week Two. Or try to win some gear in Week One: Here.

Hydrapak 3L Hydration Bladder - Review

2018-09-13T08:17:00.001-07:00

When I was a little I loved to take straws from restaurants and attach them end to end to make one long epic straw. I don’t know what the fascination was, but it seems to be a pretty universal one. I have seen countless children, in countless restaurants making the same types of straws. Then you have crazy straws that loopy loop or form glasses or other crazy shapes. There’s just something about long straws that captivates the little kid in us. Maybe that’s why we like hydration bladders. In essence they are just really long straws.

Hydrapak 3L Bladder

The first and only hydration bladder I have ever owned is Camelbak. I actually own several and they have served me well through the years. But I recently had the opportunity to try a different hydration bladder called Hydrapak. It was my first time to see and use features another brand had to offer. And I was impressed with what they had come up with.

Hydrapak 3L Bladder

Even though Hydrapak graciously sent me a bladder and 17 liter Laguna daypack, I opted to just review the Hydrapak 3 Liter bladder. I had a backpacking trip planned to the Capitan Wilderness in New Mexico and decided to use the Hydrapak instead of my trusted Camelbak. One of the favorite features of my Camelbak is my filter adapter that allows me to fill my bladder without taking it out, or even opening my pack. If I am running low on water all I have to do stop at a steam, pull out my filter and pump straight into the drinking tube. When I first decided to take the Hydrapak I started to see if I could rig my filter adapter on their tube. Which would work but not with their bite valve. Since the bite-valve was part of what I would be reviewing I had to leave the filter adapter at home. So for the first time in a long time I found myself pulling my bladder completely out of my pack to refill. But when I did I was surprised.

The Hydrapak has a quick release or “Plug N Play” connector where the tube connects to the bladder. This allowed me to quickly release the tube and pull the bladder completely out of the pack leaving the tube with the pack. Once the tube was released the bladder stayed completely sealed even under pressure. The connector looks a lot like the connector used on my filter adapter. I decided to give it a try and found they were compatible. It wasn’t as convenient as pumping straight into the drinking tube, but it wasn’t as hassling I thought it was going to be.

One of first things I noticed about Hydrapak was the unique opening. Camelbak (as well as other bladders I have seen) all have screw top closures. But Hydrapak, has a fold over closure similar to a dry-bag. To close and seal the bladder you simply fold the bladder over once and slide the clip over the fold to hold it tight. One of my frustrations with Camelbak is how hard it is to open and close the bladder’s lid. Like trying to open a stubborn new jar of pickles. But the Hydrapack is very simple and easy to use and is water tight even with a over stuffed pack applying pressure on the seal.

Hydrapak Opening

Another interesting feature, but one I didn’t find much use for is the “shape shift” low profile baffle. The Hydrapak has a single baffle down the center of the bladder that can be disconnected to allow more water, or reconnected to keep the bladder small. The baffle connects and disconnects much like a ziplock bag. But when I did try to connect the baffle I found it extremely hard to do so. I had to reach into the bladder with my dirty grubby hands to get the zip started. Then I tried to continue zipping the baffle outside of the bladder but could only zip it half way. After a few minutes of messing with it I gave up.

The bite-valve is different than others I have used. The valve forms a circle around a small plastic center. When you bite, the rubber becomes oval shaped allowing water to pass on either side of the plastic center. Despite their claims for a “high flow valve” I found myself sucking hard to get the amount of water I felt I needed. When out of breath hiking up hill the last thing you want to do is suck hard for water.

Hydrapak Bite-valve

Despite what seems like a low flow I did like the twist shut off. Half of my Camelbak bladders have shut off valves and half don’t. If you have ever hiked with a bladder that doesn't have a shut of valve then you know how easy it is to accidentally pinch your valve and lose all your water while simultaneously getting your gear wet. The fact that all Hydrpaks come standard with a shut off valve is a nice feature.

The Twist Shut Off Valve. The cap is part of the Performance upgrade

Standard Hydrapak tube and the Performance Upgrade tube. The Performance upgrade is an insulated tube with a valve cap.

All in all I really like the Hydrapack. I think it will become my primary bladder with one small adaptation. I am going to swap out the bit-vavle for my standard camelbak valve with water filter adapter. I give the Hydrapak bladder four out of five stars with the only negative being the low flow bite-valve. With the hybrid between the Camelbak valve and the Hydrapak bladder, its a solid five stars.

Would you like to win a Hydrapack with a 17L Laguna daypack? You can right now as par of our Outdoor Winter Giveaway. Simply use the raffelcopter interface below and you can win this and a ton of other great gear.

Injinji Socks Review

2018-09-13T08:03:00.002-07:00

This is the one of several posts contributed by my wife. We hope for this to become a regular segment on MyLifeOutdoors. A valuable resource to women (and their husbands) who love the outdoors (or who, at least, wish to love the outdoors). This is My Wife Outdoors.

I have to admit when my husband gave me two pairs of Injinji toe socks to try out and review I could think of no worse torture on earth. You see, I have feet issues. I hate uncomfortable shoes and really prefer to not wear shoes at all. I don’t like people touching my feet. I absolutely loathe for my toes to be separated. When I go get pedicures and they put those little toe separating things in between my toes I often think, if I were a secret agent I could be forced into confession by having my toes splayed apart. Yes. I just used the word “pedicure”on an outdoorsy man blog. Before I lose all of my awesome hubbys readers I will get to my point. Toe socks are not my bag o chips. I love my man though so I have been wearing the injinji toe socks frequently over the past few weeks. Here are my thoughts...

Injinji Socks

The first few minutes I put these socks on and walked around the house I thought “forget this. I’d rather have my toes amputated.” Okay. I don’t really think they were that bad, it was more annoying than anything really. The next day I wore my new hot pink injinji socks to work. It was going to be a long day and I really took a gamble because I didn’t bring a back up pair of socks. One thing I really like about the injinji socks is that they don’t fall down as you wear them. They got me through my day at work and I hardly even thought my toes being separated as the day wore on.

I am a runner. I just like to say that because it sounds cool. Truthfully I am more of a walk/jogger who wakes up at 5:15 three days a week to attempt running but usually fails. I like to take my out of shape middle aged dog running so I can use her as an excuse to “slow down” and so her hacking and huffing will mask my own pig like breathing sounds. That doesn’t sound half as awesome as being a runner though. Moving on...throughout the next few weeks I put the injinji socks to the ultimate test and decided to wear them on my morning run. One of the things that I loved about the toe socks was that they kept my toes from overlapping and they don’t bunch or slouch.I didn’t have to stop and use “fixing my sock” as an excuse to catch my breath once. I have never been onboard the toe shoe train but these socks really started making me wonder if I wouldn’t prefer running in that style of shoe. I can’t believe I just wrote that.

In the end I could see several positive aspects of the injinji sock. They have cushioning in all the right places, they keep your toes from rubbing, and they fit well. I think overtime I might be able to get used to the feeling of having my toes separated. I could definitely see where they would work for a Vibram FiveFingers style shoe. The only downside is that they aren’t comfortable to just wear around, the toe separating takes some getting used to, and they are difficult to put on. I can’t much fault the socks for not being designed for wear around the house comfort because I think this goes back to my toe splaying aversion. Plus I don’t frequently sport my wool hiking socks around the home either. All in all these socks aren’t bad. My eleven year old daughter loves them and they are making me possibly consider a conversion to toe shoes for running. If you are already a toe shoe fanatic these
socks rock.

If you would like to win a pair of Injinji Socks you can right now in our Outdoor Winter Giveaway. Enter to win on the giveaway post or by using the raffelcopter interface below.

Chaos CTR Adrenaline Multi-Tasker Pro Balaclava - Review

2018-09-13T08:00:00.001-07:00

I have a beard. Mostly because I think I look stupid without it, but also because it is a natural insulator. If my wife would let me, I would grow it out more until it was a little thicker. As it is now, its not much against cold and wind. There are days when its just not enough and I need something more substantial to keep my face and neck warm.

Chaos CTR Adrenaline Multi-Tasker Pro Balaclava

On days like that you can usually find me on the ski slopes using a fleece gaiter to keep my face warm. I pull it up high over my ears and pull a warm beanie down over it. It gets the job done on those really cold days, but its not the best. It wasn’t until recently, when I received a Chaos CTR Adrenaline Multi-Tasker Pro Balaclava, that I realized there was something better.

I wear a helmet when I ski. A couple of seasons back I hit my head pretty hard when a young, speeding, kid took out my legs. I have worn a helmet every since. My helmet fits well, so well there is no room for a beanie underneath. I like the Adrenaline Multi-Tasker Pro because it covers my head and is thin enough to fit under a helmet.

Here you can see the WINDSHIELD face protection.

One of the things that frustrates me about my fleece gaiter is the lack of good air flow. When Its cold enough I like to pull it up high to protect my face. But breathing into the fleece fogs up my goggles. The Adrenaline Multi-Tasker Pro has a breathable mesh panel near the mouth and nose for great air exchange. But still keeps the wind out with “WINDSHIELD” protection everywhere else. If its not that cold and I just want something around my neck, the Adrenaline Multi-Tasker Pro has a hinged opening that allows it to comfortably function either way.

The Breathable Mesh Panel

The Adrenaline Multi-Tasker Pro is made with Dri-Release Wool that keeps moisture at bay while keeping you warm. It is cut to fit your head snugly and comfortably without bunching up.
I haven’t gotten a chance to put the Adrenaline Multi-Tasker Pro to the ultimate test. I’m still waiting for enough snow. But my initial test look great and the Adrenaline Multi-Tasker Pro seems to preform well. It has replaced my fleece gaiter for this upcoming ski season.

If you would like to try the Chaos CTR Adrenaline Multi-Tasker Pro Balaclava for yourself you can. Win one along with a ton of other gear in our Outdoor Winter Giveaway. Visit the giveaway page to see what else you can win, or just enter below. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Eco-Vessel 25 oz. Aqua-Vessel Water Bottle - Review

2018-09-13T07:53:00.002-07:00

This is the one of several posts contributed by my wife. We hope for this to become a regular segment on MyLifeOutdoors. A valuable resource to women (and their husbands) who love the outdoors (or who, at least, wish to love the outdoors). This is My Wife Outdoors.

I pretty much have a water bottle obsession. There, that’s out in the open and I feel tons better. I drink a ridiculous amount of water and like to keep a bottle on me when I am on the go. Which is somewhere around 99.9% of the time. When my hubbs was sent a 25 oz. Eco Vessel Aqua Vessel to review I snagged it pretty quickly. For one it was purple (Yay!). Two the man only drinks a single 12oz soda every day somehow manages to not shrivel up and die. He will say this is untrue...but don’t believe him. Obviously, a purple water bottle would be of little use to my man. I carried around the Aqua Vessel for a few weeks and I must admit I am currently in love. It is now my favorite go-to water bottle. I get sort of bummed when it is in the dishwasher. Here is what I love about the Aqua Vessel...

Eco-Vessel

The Aqua Vessel is durable. I know because I drop things a lot. I was worried about it’s durability because it is made of hard plastic. My last Thermos brand hard plastic water bottle cracked the first time it hit the ground. I dropped the Aqua Vessel on pavement the other day and it survived beautifully.

The Aqua Vessel is big. I like to drink at least 64 oz. of water a day (you have to flush out the coffee somehow). This water bottle is 25 oz. so it is easy to meet my daily water quota and I only have to get up from my office desk for 3 refills.

Eco-Vessel Aqua Vessel

The Aqua Vessel comes with a filter. I admit that I didn’t try the filter out because we only received one and wanted to save it for the giveaway. We drink only filtered water in Midland because our water tastes like pool. It takes a good filter to rid the water of that taste and I was curious to see if the Aqua Vessel’s filter would measure up but didn’t want to waste a filter someone else might be able to use more than once.

The Aqua Vessel is leak proof...as long as you make sure the straw portion is completely closed. This is my favorite part. I often throw a water bottle in my purse to run errands and find all my receipts and junk floating in the bottom soaked. I am happy to say that the Aqua Vessel passed the leak proof test as long as it was closed properly. Which is more than I can say for our Camelbak water bottles (So frustrating!!!).

This water bottle would be great for hiking, biking, and just running around town with. I am strongly considering buying a few for my girls. That is saying something because I recently swore off water bottles because of constant leak issues. These bottles are cheaper and better than the similar style Camelbak. If you haven’t given an Aqua Vessel a try you definitely should! I hope you are as pleased as I have been. Did I mention they come in purple???!!

If you would like to win an Eco-Vessel along with a ton of other gear you can in our Outdoor Winter Giveaway. There is only a few hours left so hurry and enter below. To see what else we are giving away go to the giveaway post here. a Rafflecopter giveaway

It's Been Far Too Long

2018-09-13T07:38:00.000-07:00

Have you ever found a blog you really love only to discover its dead or inactive? I used to hate that! For many of my readers, you have probably begun to wonder the same thing about MyLifeOutdoors. Looking over the blog, my last post was back at the end of november. Its been 3 months since my last post, which is way too long.

Upcoming Report for Garner State Park

Not that you need to hear the excuses, but work, life, family, and everything in between has been really bogging me down. I haven't stopped getting outside, but with everything else going on, spending anytime with the blog has seemed daunting. I hope to change that and start posting on a regular basis again, maybe once a week, to keep things from overwhelming me. Either way, MyLifeOutdoors isn't dead.

Upcoming Report for Capitan Wilderness NM

Starting next week we will have a post out from my wife about our last trip to Garner State Park. I hope to follow that with my own post about the same trip, including a wonderful write up about a river outfitter that really helped us out. I have a backpacking trip to Capitan Wilderness I need to write about, and a long overdue report for Arches National Park. I also have a ton of gear and how to articles in mind that ought to keep the content coming for some time.

Long overdue Report for Arches National Park

My Wife Outdoors: Garner State Park

2018-09-13T07:36:00.004-07:00

This is one of several posts contributed by my wife. We hope for this to become a regular segment on MyLifeOutdoors. A valuable resource to women (and their husbands) who love the outdoors (or who, at least, wish to love the outdoors). This is My Wife Outdoors.

Several months ago I was visiting Monahans Sandhills State Park when I picked up A Texas State Parks State Park Guide. I had rode with some friends to the park and on the way home I had 45minutes to kill so I started thumbing through this Guide, which made me start dreaming of all the places I would rather be going. On the top of this list was Garner State Park.

Old Baldy - Garner State Park

I have always dreamed of going to Garner State Park, the problem is Garner is always busy and always full when we have time to go. This year I was determined to finally visit one of my local dream destinations.

During October we decided to take our youngest daughter on her very first ever Birthday trip. You see in our family we take our oldest daughter on a trip every year for her birthday. The premise is that Birthday party’s are stressful and I don’t like to be stressed when I am celebrating my kiddo’s life. Also, we decided that for the same money it would cost to plan a party and buy presents we could build memories. We have also discovered that when we get away we actually get to spend quality time enjoying each other, much more than we would at home with the distractions of television and outside people. So we get away. Our youngest daughter has never cared about where she is or what she does. This year though she has started begging to hike, backpack, camp, and go to the “actual park (national park).” I mean this kid actually cries when you take her to the park because it isn’t the National Park and there is no camping! So we decided to take her to Garner and we finally snagged a campsite…the very last one in the whole park!

Kayaking on Frio River - Garner State park

I will leave the technical report to my hubbs and just tell you what Garner was like for a Mommy of two young girls. It was amazing! We arrived at Garner and were pleasantly surprised, though every campsite was booked the sites were so spread out that we felt decently secluded from other campers. We set up camp that night and laid down to bed with an awesome view of the Milky Way in the night sky. The Frio River was pristine and swimmable, even in early October. We spent an entire day kayaking through the beautiful Frio. The showers were nice and clean. What I really loved about Garner was the ability to kayak and hike. The trails were plenty easy and I think we could have explored all of the available trails in a weekend or less. We hiked up Bridges Trail and got a beautiful view of Baldy and the beautiful bend of the Frio nestled below. We also got to explore a small cave with our girls. There was so much to do!

Trail Blaze at Garner State Park

Garner was a hit and I don’t think my girls will forget the memories we made there! I will definitely have to make a few more trips to this Texas gem! If you have never been I highly recommend it! Garner isn’t as secluded as we typically like to be, but it is beautiful and worth exploring.

Slacklining - Fun, Inexpensive way to be Active Outdoors

2018-09-13T07:34:00.003-07:00

I live in the middle of a flat, dry dessert. There isn’t much in the way of outdoor recreation. At least not locally. Not even a good bike trail. Being active outside is a challenge for my family. So I recently started looking for ways my family and I could spend some quality time together without diving several hours to be outdoors. My solution? Slacklining.

Slacklining in Midland Texas. Any trek fans out there?

Slacklining has appealed to me for sometime. It seems every time I’m on the web looking at outdoor blogs and the like I come across a picture or video of someone slacklining. It looks challenging and fun, and is something I can do locally without spending a ton of money.

Slacklining in Midland Texas

So a week or two ago I bit the bullet and bought a Gibbon Classic 49 foot 2 inch slackline. Counting tonight I have been slacklining for about 2 hours a day for 4 days. At first my leg shook uncontrollably anytime I put some weight on the line. This seems to be pretty normal and after about 30 min it went away. But it took almost an hour of just trying to get on the line before I could balance even a little. After about 3 hours I could walk about 5 feet before falling off. Now, after about 8 hours of total slackining experience I can walk about 20 feet pretty consistently.

Gibbon Classic 2 inch Slackline

I started off barefoot with the line stretched across my driveway. (Only solid trees I have are on opposite sides of the driveway.) Since then I have moved to local parks. We have a huge sticker problem in Midland which keeps me from going barefoot. So I have been slacklining in some Patagonia loafers which have a nice flat sole but no support. My next step is purchasing some better shoes, which presents a problem. There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of info out there on what types of shoes are best. The only shoes (that I can find) made specifically for slacklinging are the 5.10 line king. But I’m having a hard time spending $90+ on some ugly shoes. So if anyone has some recommendations. I would greatly appreciate the advice.

My wife slacklining barefoot over small but pokey rocks.

Slacklining in Patagonia Loafers. It looks like I'm about to fall, but I'm actually doing fairly well.

All in all I have really enjoyed slacklining. Especially with the extra daylight in the evenings and the warm springtime temperatures. If you are looking for a fun and exciting, yet inexpensive hobby (about $55 at Campsaver.com which is where I got mine) I highly recommend slacklining. Buy below to support MyLifeOutdoors.com

Floating the Frio River, Texas

2018-09-13T07:30:00.002-07:00

Back in October my family and I went to check out Garner State Park for the first time. Having lived in Texas all my life, it was practically a sin that I hadn't been to Garner yet. But for good reason....Garner is by far the most popular park in Texas. The one thing I hate more than anything else is crowds encroaching on my time in the outdoors.

Floating the Frio River, Texas

Our solution was to take a short river Trip down the Frio River. Even with every campsite in Garner full, no one was willing to venture the cold Frio river this late in the season. We had it all to ourselves.

My mom and dad had joined us to celebrate my Daughters 3rd birthday. I own a couple kayaks perfectly suited for Texas rivers, but needed a couple more if everyone was going to enjoy the river. I did a quick internet search and found Star Rentals just south of Garner State Park. They offer single and tandem sit on top kayaks as well as inner-tubes for paddling or floating the Frio River. We got one single and one tandem Ocean Kayak form Star Rentals. The owner, Chuck, shuttled us and the boats down the road to the put in on Country Road 350. He then took his personal truck down to the get out and left it there for us to use. Chuck and Star Rentals were very accommodating and helped make our trip a huge success. If you are in the area and looking for a good river outfitter, I highly recommend Star Rentals.

Star Rentals on CR 350 just south of Garner State park

We put in at County Road 350 at the widest park of the river, which was a dead end. As it turns out the narrow, fast flowing, part of the river was the actual flow. We backtracked carrying the heavy boats 100 yards across rocky uneven terrain. When we finally got back in the boats we calmly floated about another hundred yards before running into what appeared to be a barbwire fence across the river. It turned out to just be bailing wire, but still seemed to be an unnecessary hazard. If I am correct it is illegal to stretch fences across public rivers in Texas. Had the water been flowing a little faster, it could have been a real danger. The Rest of our trip was calm and relaxing. Most of the rapids were small and fun to negotiate. The river was flowing pretty low witch required us to drag the boats in spots. There was only one major rapid which everyone but the wife and I portaged.

Fence across the Frio River

Small Dam on Frio River

My youngest sleepin on the Kayak

A large rapid with barely enough flow to be runnable.

The trip took about 3-4 hours total, but times are dependent on river flow. The flow for us was very low. We took out at 7 bluffs where Chuck’s truck was waiting. We loaded the kayaks into the back and headed back to Star Rentals. It was a fun, relaxing enjoyable trip for the whole family. Our next adventure was a short hike through Garner State Park...

The water was cold, but not too cold to swim.

To get to Star Rentals from the Dallas - Ft. Worth area take I-35 South to Austin. From Austin Take US 290 West to Fredericksburg. In Fredericksburg take Hwy 16 West towards Kerrville. At I-10 turn right and go West on I-10 West to Hwy 41. Take Hwy 41 West to US Hwy 83. Take US Hwy 83 South through Leakey. Stay on US Hwy 83 South 9 miles to CR 350. Turn left on 350 and continue about 2 miles and watch for Star Rentals on the left.

From Houston take I-10 West towards San Antonio. In San Antonio as you travel west on I-10 stay to the left to remain on US Hwy 90 West. From San Antonio Take US Hwy 90 West to Sabinal. At the traffic signal in Sabinal turn right on Hwy 127. Stay left on 127 as you leave Sabinal, taking 127 to Concan. Take US Hwy 83 North at Concan to CR 350. Turn right on 350 and continue about 2 miles and just watch for Star Rentals on the left.

Washing Down Sleeping Bags and Jackets

2018-09-13T07:27:00.002-07:00

If you spend anytime in the backcountry, chances are you own some down gear. Down sleeping bags and jackets are lightweight, incredibly warm, and super compressible. Just like everything else, down gear gets dirty (and smelly) and needs to be washed. But down gear is so delicate and expensive, that washing it is a little more complicated than just throwing it in with the rest of your laundry.

I’m going to focus on how to wash two different types of Gear. A down jacket, and a down sleeping bag. The jacket’s tag has wash instructions, and yours may too, be sure to check the washing instructions before washing any gear. My down sleeping bag on the other hand, has no instructions. So lets tackle it first.

Down Detergent.

As I mentioned before down is expensive, delicate, high end gear. To keep it protected you want to avoid standard washing detergents. Be sure to use a specialized down detergent like Down Wash from Nixwax. And since we don’t have washing instructions we are going to avoid the potentially harmful motion of the washing machine. Nixwax suggests hand washing in the bath tube, which is what we are going to do. Wash your Down Sleeping Bag in the Bath Tub. Fill the bath tub about 2-3 inches deep and add 3 ounces of down wash. Don’t use too much water or the detergent will be too diluted. Soak your down bag in the tub and gently agitate it by hand. Be sure to use gloves to keep the harmful detergents away from your skin. My sleeping bag was too large to be completely submerged in the water so I gently flipped, rotated, and turned the bag inside out to make sure it was completely washed. Be sure to properly support a wet down bag when flipping or moving. Wet down can be so heavy it will rip straight through the bags baffles. Once the bag is sufficiently clean be sure to rinse with fresh water. Continue to rinse until the water runs clear.

Nikwax Down Wash

Wash You Down Bag in the Bath Tub

Nikwax Down Wash instruction Label

Dry your Down Bag.

Once again, wet down can be so heavy it will rip your bags baffles. For this reason we don’t want to throw the bag in the dryer. Being sure to properly support your wet down bag lay it out flat somewhere to air dry. To do this I laid three kitchen chairs on their backs and draped the bag across the legs. I threw some towels underneath to catch dripping water. With this method the bag is properly supported and exposed to air on all sides. It took all night for my bag to dry. Periodically I would flip or turn the bag inside out to allow it to dry a little quicker. Once the bag was mostly dry I went ahead and threw it in the dryer along with a couple of tennis balls. The tennis balls help fluff and break up clumps of down inside the bag. Be sure to set the dryer on “low” or “air only” to keep from melting the shell.

I laid 3 kitchen chairs on their backs over a couple of towels to dry my down bag.

Throw in a couple of clean tennis balls to brake up down clumps

Store your Bag Uncompressed.

It’s not good for down to stay compressed for long periods of time. The stuff sack that came with your bag should only be used when you are on the trail. When your at home store your bag in a large cotton sack. I use a cotton storage sack made by Kelty specifically for this purpose.

Down Sleeping Bag stored in a cotton sack

Down Sleeping Bag stored in a cotton storage sack. I use this sack made by Kelty

Wash Your Down Jacket.

The down jacket is a little bit easier. With smaller baffles it is less likely wet down will rip through the seems. The jackets label allows for front loading washing machines which are pretty common these days. I followed the label on the Jacket along with the Nixwax instructions.

Washing Instructions for my down jacket.

Clean Out Your Detergent Dispenser.

Probably the hardest part of washing down in a washing machine is cleaning out the detergent dispenser. Standard detergents can be harmful to your down gear, so you don’t want any residue mixing in with the down wash. I pulled the detergent drawer completely out and took it to the kitchen sink for a good washing. I had to scrub old detergent out of the despiser with a brillow pad making sure to clean even the hard to reach places. I then went back to the machine and cleaned out the path the detergent flows down to get into the wash. Once it was sufficiently clean, I tossed my down jacket in by its self and pored 3 ounces of down wash in the dispenser. I made sure the washer was set for cold water, gentle cycle with minimal spin cycles.

I cleaned out the detergent dispenser in the kitchen sink

Make sure to use cold water, and low spin.

Drying your Down Jacket

After the washing machine the down jacket came out mostly dry. (probably due to the spin cycle.) The instructions allowed for a drying in a dryer and so I threw the jacket in with a couple of tennis balls. A little while later and the jacket was dry and smelling fresh.

Be sure to check your gear for specific washing instructions and read the label on your down wash. I hope your gear smells as good as mine the next time you take it out on the trail.

$500 to Summit a Mountain of Your Choice - From Post Grape Nuts Cereal

2018-09-13T07:24:00.003-07:00

I wanted to put out a quick post about a wonderful opportunity from Post Grape Nuts. Grape Nuts is celebrating the 60th anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary's historic summit of Mount Everest. Apparently Sir Edmund Hillary took grape nuts along with him to the summit 60 years ago. To commemorate the anniversary, Grape Nuts is looking for a few good outdoor types to summit a local peak (of your choice) and take some new Grape Nuts Fit Cereal samples with you. If you apply (and are selected) Grape Nuts will send you a free High Sierra daypack, a summit flag, and some sample cereal, bowls and spoons to hand out on the summit. If you take a picture of your trip and send it back to Grape Nuts, they will give you $500 cash. Not a bad deal.

I applied to be a Summit Sampler myself. This is how it works. You have until April 19th to apply to be a Summit Sampler. If selected you get the gear and summit the mountain indicated in your application on or around May 29th (the actual anniversary of Hillary's Everest Summit). Take a picture of your trip, and you get $500 cash. Follow the link here to apply, I hope to see you on the summit with some Grape Nuts in hand.