Category: Cultural critique
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The growth of monstercross
First of all, it’s one word, not “monster cross” (just like it’s packrafting, not “pack rafting”). Second, I’m glad to see the term spreading far and wide, in the sense I invented, that which describes a not especially technical dirt bike race or route. Do a google and you’ll see that since the original monstercross…
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Roller derby as postpostmodern feminism
Tara Ladyup jamming for Flathead Valley. Premodern (“proto”) feminism: Lucretia Mott. Modern feminism: Betty Friedan. Postmodern feminism: Julia Kristeva, Luce Irigaray, Judith Butler. Postpostmodern feminism: Roller derby. [Go read the Katy Perry post if you want exposition.]
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Wilderness biking in the lower 48
Fat bikes are in the process of reshaping what a mountain bike is. They’re a fad, insofar as their popularity is riding a cissoidal curve. Doubtless in five years there will be a number of Pugsleys and Mukluks gathering dust. There will also be exponentially more fat frames and components. In 20 years the average…
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La Obsesion and the evolution of climbing style
I’m slowly becoming more interested in climbing again, and to that end the following video came across my desk today. I enjoyed it on several levels, but none more than watching Andrada climb La Rambla towards the end. I started climbing in a time of transition, 1993, when indoor climbing gyms were beginning to explode…
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Don’t hike your own hike
(a moral framework for lightweight backpacking and outdoor recreation) If you have been around hiking circles long enough, you know of the phrase “Hike Your Own Hike”. The idea that as long as your hike does not effect other people, it’s all kosher. -Paul Magnanti …I’m fine with your HYOH just don’t destroy my HYOH…
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A 21st Century Park Service
Belly River ranger station, January 2012 The U.S. National Park Service will be a century old in 2016. I agree with Ken Burns et al that it and the parks they serve may be one of America’s best ideas. What Burns’ excellent documentary whitewashes, and what is becoming increasingly evident today, is the extent to…
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Prematurely seeking death
If individuality is a lie, or at least phantasmagoric, than solo backpacking must be suicidal. Right? In spite of, and because of this, I enjoy it immensely. Especially in our current snow drought, when I was able to do a substantive, 40+ mile loop over two days without needing skis or snowshoes. In January. Remarkable.…
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Tracking Gulo gulo
I first met Sally in July of 2010, during this trip. I had crossed over the snow in the Fifty Mountain meadow and was amped to inflate my newish packraft on the Waterton River. After the patrol cabin the trail takes a brief uphill detour through thick cow parsnip, and I was motoring mindlessly before…
Bedrock & Paradox 
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