Category: Backpacking
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Recent writings
I’ve had a few things published lately. An article about the psychological side of remoteness over at the Gossamer Gear blog, and a review of trail gaiters at Toe Salad. You might find them interesting.
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Pack materials rundown
I gave in to a somewhat unreasonable obsession with building packs a few years ago, embracing the learning process it provides and admitting that nothing will be perfect and that eventually, anything will go back under the knife to be rebuilt or just scrapped for parts. This lack of attachment helps, I like to think,…
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Seek Outside Big Sibling stove review
I am not going to discuss the theory and applicability of a backpackable wood stove here. For that, go elsewhere. If you are interested in the lightest and most compact such stove currently available, read on. The Big Sibling is the lightest wood stove on the market because it dispenses with a lot of what…
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Wind powered
Many Glacier is shaped by the wind. On even the harshest days during the kind six months of the year, you only see the obliquest angle of this. In winter, it’s full bore: wind sucked down off the continental divide down three gaping drainages and blasted out onto the lakes of the main valley. M…
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Landscape Trauma
A few days ago I read a nauseating article over at Irunfar. Nauseating in that too many of the commenters are divorced from the way in which our livelihood is intertwined with the land, in ways which should usually cause a considerable amount of dis-ease. The question of whether animal protein is a necessary…
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2013 in review: A journey with backpacks
Gossamer Gear Gorilla, Red Eagle Meadows. M photo. I have a large pile of packs in the closet right now. The taint of this excess is blunted somewhat by the fact that M and I can wear almost identically sized packs, but the redundancy still gets under my skin. However, given the huge steps in…
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2013 in review: 14 landscapes
The year in chronological review; one photo for each month, with two for June and October as I just couldn’t pick. Which is a fitting, as the sheer volume of excellence in 2013 is overwhelming when looked back over. As far as trips go, I’m struggling with plans for 2014. Options are not in short…
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2013 TR contest results
The numbers are in. Kristin Gates led almost wire to wire, and ended up with 32% of the vote. Steve Fassbinder came in second, at 22%. Dan Durston and Luc Mehl tied, 19.5% each. And Brendan Swihart followed with 7%. I’ll be contacting each of the above in the next few days to dole out…
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2013 Trip Report Contest Voting
“If voting changed anything, they’d make it illegal.” -Emma Goldman What you are voting on: Kristen Gates’ ~1000 mile solo east to west traverse of the Brooks Range in Alaska. A thru-hiker graduating to something bigger in spectacular fashion. An exceptionally well written account. Dan Durston’s packraft and hiking trip on the north shore…
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Blue and white
The first backpack of 2014 is in the books, as a bail. 3 hours in the carbon cuff on my right BCX12 was rubbing the outside of my lower leg in a way that just wasn’t going to work for another 20 miles, so I took the short option back. Still an extraordinary winter day.…
Bedrock & Paradox 
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