Category: Backpacking
-
Cairn Carto maps
Disclaimer: M knows that the 4th or 5th fastest way to my heart is via a free and nifty-looking trucker hat. A while ago the folks at Cairn Cartographics asked me to take a look at their new Glacier/Waterton map before it went to print. In exchange they gave me a few free maps and…
-
MTI Vibe v. Astral V-8: packrafting PFDs
The Astral V-8 and the MTI Vibe are PFDs you’d use for similar things, and have similar attributes with only a few distinct yet significant differences. They are both class III vests with 15 pounds of buoyancy, both weigh about the same (20 oz for the V-8, 24 oz for the Vibe), and both cost…
-
The ugliness of family packrafting
One of the relatively few regrets I harbor when it comes to trips not done concerns the summer of 2014 and the Smith River. 2014 wasn’t the biggest snow year Montana has seen, not by a long shot, but the spring was cool and exceptionally wet and the water table kept getting pumped full all…
-
What ultralight is not, part 2
My post the other week has proven quite popular, more than anything a cautionary tale for me. In 10.5 years of doing this I never go more than a few months without being surprised by what proves of interest to folks, and have long since ceased being surprised when a personal favorite earns low numbers. …
-
Somewhere in Montana
I have a conflicted relationship with mountain biking. On the one hand, it is the closest we can get to flying while still being tethered to the dirt, and was my entry into endurance sports and all that pursuit has given me. On the other, use trends and modern preference conspire to reduce many, likely…
-
Hydration for multiday backcountry pursuits
15 years ago the hydration system revolution was in full swing. Hoses and bladders were ubiquitous for day hiking, mountain bikers, backpackers, and even runners. Bladder tech has only gotten better since; after holding out for years against more gadgets I must admit that the quick disconnect that came with the latest Osprey is darn…
-
The enchanting wind
One thing I only touched upon a few months ago, during our final search for a new and hopefully permanent home, was weather and climate. At the time the human components loomed larger, prioritization whose efficacy has been born out in the ease with which we’ve strollered around Helena’s convoluted streets over the last four…
-
What ultralight is not
I tried my best five years ago, but despite little technological progress of consequence since, that little bastard ultralight refuses to die. Rather, it lives a more robust life than ever, largely as a marketing catchphrase. That being the case it is important than usual to take some time today and discuss all the things…
-
The 2017 Bob Open
One of the best, if not the best, thing about the Bob Open is that it isn’t about me or anyone else. It’s about everyone, going out and battling with their demons and desires on their own terms and hopefully learning what they wanted. The Bob itself is just a canvas, though not all canvas’s…
-
Bob Open 2017; midterm analysis
Add: The stories are piling up over on the BPL forums. As ever some fantastic stuff, with maybe a bigger dose of happy suffering than usual. Massively inspired; thanks everyone. With 18 starters we did set a record for participants this year, and beyond that we certainly set a record for the number…
Bedrock & Paradox 
You must be logged in to post a comment.