Enough political and cultural criticism (for the moment), and back to the regular programing.

The race pack has been working very well; the design is sound. Key to function was figuring out how to tame the dromedary. A bit of cord runs through webbing tabs near the bottom of the pack and around the cap, and keeps it centered and in place.

It manges big and small loads well.  Mind the details.

Another bit of gear that is rapidly gaining favor is the New Balance T100s.  I’m a convert to low, soft shoes, and these seem to have beef right where it’s needed and nowhere else.

The Darn Tough socks are pretty rad too. Denser wool than Smartwool, hopefully more durable, and the best range of color available in socks anywhere.

It was a good day to take a hike, which I did.

Spring may be here in the valleys, but the mountains are still wrapped in winter.  M and I are headed up to the Altoona Ridge Lodge late next week, and on the phone this morning the owner assured me that they’re still getting snow, with knee deep powder just last week.  I can count the number of real powder days this winter on one hand, so a bit more would be nice.

I’m also angling to do a longer, solo ski trip this weekend.  My plans are hampered by the snowpack and by the weather.  It’s been warm enough to shake things up and make wet, point release slides a real concern during the day, but not yet warm enough to really solidify the snowpack up high.  It’s impossible to plan a worthy loop or traverse that doesn’t have at least one area of concern.  I’ll see what the weather does for the rest of the week, and adjust accordingly.  Most likely I’ll find myself in either the Bob or Yellowstone.  Tough choices to make. ;)

Speaking of tough choices, M and I pulled the plug on Transiowa.  Time away from work and school, and bike shipping and plane tickets all add up to just too much.  Bummer, but we can’t do everything.  With student loan repayment looming, I’ll have to get more used to that than our rather luxuriously lazy life has given me cause to do in the last few years.  Beyond a search for what I want to do with my professional career, and where M and I will live for the next 3-5 years, I’m in the process of rethinking what I want out of outdoor adventure and athleticism.  I’ve yet to find something that really gets me fired up this year.

And to not get away from politics and activism completely, I leave you with a credit card commerical:

http://www.youtube.com/v/wlaYJhLylzw&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1

Chouinard was and is a badass mofo.