Category: Cultural critique

• ’13 Prescriptions

  In my recent post on the Sandy Hook shooting I wrote that “Real progress is not a movie-friendly month of intervention and epiphany, but a slow grinding of years and small moments whose efficacy is not seen for years, or decades.”  Since it’s easier to throw stones than pick them up and build a wall…

  DaveC

  January.7.2013

  Cultural critique, Social Justice Work

• 2012; the most beautiful year

  This has been a difficult year.  To use one easy example, the progression of my wilderness skills was orderly and logical in years past.  In 2008 Chris Plesko and I went to Yellowstone.  In 2009 Kevin Sawchuk and I traversed the Bob in October.  In 2010 I traversed the Thorofare alone in May, and learned…

  DaveC

  December.23.2012

  Backpacking, Bikes and biking, Climbing, Cultural critique, Fly Fishing, Hunting, MYOG, N.O.S., Packrafting, Racing, Skiing, Social Justice Work, Tech, Videos

• Newtown for a new century

  What’s in your closet? Gun control is not the answer. Yes guns make it easier, and perhaps therefore more probable, for the Lanza’s of the world to kill many people.  But let us remember something which most have forgotten in the past four days: the second amendment has nothing to do with hunting, or with…

  DaveC

  December.19.2012

  Cultural critique, Social Justice Work

• 2012 Outdoor State of the Industry report and Holiday Gift Guide

  Yesterday I discussed how 2012 has, in the cycling world, been the year of the fat bike. Below I’ll examine various other categories, in a non-definitive fashion, to highlight similarly industry-shifting developments. These are products which speak of a significant and promising trend, and which I know from personal experience or reliable reports to be…

  DaveC

  December.2.2012

  Backpacking, Bikes and biking, Climbing, Cultural critique, Fly Fishing, MYOG, Packrafting, Racing, Skiing, Tech

• Gratitude is no accident

  Last week, going through the drive-through of my usual coffee shop, I noticed that they were opening at midnight for black Friday. I was dismayed. Thanksgiving might be the best American holiday on a conceptual basis, but in execution it is riven through with that which makes our culture sick.  Commercialism, meat-head athletics, and hurry:…

  DaveC

  November.25.2012

  Backpacking, Cultural critique, Skiing

• TrailGroove Magazine

  TrailGroove is a new (beginning of this year) magazine devoted to backpacking and wilderness travel. They do high quality writing and photography on a variety of subjects, available for free viewing in an e-mag format. I wrote a piece on off trail hiking, both in Glacier and generally, for their latest issue. You can read…

  DaveC

  November.19.2012

  Backpacking, Cultural critique

• Banff 2012: the death of the spectacular

  I have in my possession an unpublished essay by Arne Naess entitled “The Spectacular- An Enemy?”  According to Bill Devall, he wrote it in the mid-80s after visiting Canyonlands National Park for the first time.  At the moment that binder is buried in a box under boxes down in the garage, so I cannot quote…

  DaveC

  November.14.2012

  Backpacking, Climbing, Cultural critique, N.O.S., Skiing, Videos

• A living pack

  Above are the closest to stock packs which currently exist in our house. At upper left is my brand new Hill People Gear Runner’s Kit bag (in foliage, which is a great color).  It costs 85 dollars, and is (conspicuously) made in the United States out of US-produced materials.  The body is entirely 500D cordura,…

  DaveC

  November.8.2012

  Backpacking, Cultural critique, Social Justice Work, Tech

• Understanding 2012

  “We know in our hearts that for the United States of America, the best is yet to come.” -Barack Obama, last night Please note, this is the 2008 speech. It may be true. Perhaps the best is yet to come, but the real question is what the best will look like.  There is a reason,…

  DaveC

  November.7.2012

  Cultural critique

• Identity politics as such

  Or; now that I’ve got everyone’s attention it is time to loose it. My recent post has everyone thinking.  Good, though not too good because too many are agreeing with me.  So I’ll expand on a particular pivot in that post which has, seemingly, eluded many.  Identity politics is at first glance the idea that…

  DaveC

  October.22.2012

  Backpacking, Cultural critique