Category: Packrafting
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Little Missouri and Maah Daah Hey logistics and debrief
While I long ago accepted that every new trip in the woods would spawn ideas for 4 new ones, and really great trips would give birth to more, better ideas for the future, I’m quite proud at how few really vital, urgent ideas have remained un-done for years and years. One of those few, packrafting…
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Layering in 2019: insulation
Moreso than with most categories I feel sympathy for beginners trying to come to terms with understanding insulated garments for the outdoors. Staying warm outside, on the face, shouldn’t be so complicated, and while the nuance and especially implementation of staying warm outside can be hard to hew closely with, having warm enough clothing shouldn’t…
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Layering in 2019: mid and wind layers
Since 2011 I’ve owned around two dozen windshirts, and while a third of those were for larger reviews and garments in which I didn’t have an inherent interest, this still amounts to an extravagant total. As of today there are only four in regular rotation. In the same period I’ve had at least the same…
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Layering in 2019: introduction and baselayers
Any discussion of layering has to start with it being somewhat of a misnomer; the point of a good layering system is to provider a few solid pieces which cover as great a range of conditions as possible. If you have to swap, add, or remove layers often, you chose poorly for the day. That…
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The perfect pole; revised
These poles have worked very well in the 5.5 years since I put them together. They’ve been light enough, bomber, and the ability to swap lowers and have a pole longer enough for nordic skiing (or pitching a mid with a single pole) has been very handy. Shortcomings have been two fold. While the…
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The present of synthetic insulation
Last year I wrote about my lasting dissatisfaction with synthetic insulated jackets. Today I’m happy to report that substantial progress has been made, in the form of the Patagonia Hyperpuff. I bought a Hyperpuff jacket last spring, during the annual 50% off sale, and tested the most intransigent concern for a synthetic insulated jacket, durability,…
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Cold
There’s the cold of walking downstairs, barefooted into the crosswinds of baseboard heaters just turned on. A head fuzzy with sleep and the unguardedness of pajamas that has you wanting an extra sweater. There’s the creeping cold; a headwind soaking into your layers and sublimating back and down your spine. After one hour you’re chilled,…
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Premium baselayers: what you get
For the last three years my one-sized solution to any temps above really cold has been the original version of the Sitka LW Core hoody. With ~100 grams/meter 100% poly bicomponent (grid inner) and a trim, simple fit it is the shirt I spent close to decade waiting for. A decade ago baselayer fabric wasn’t…
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Shoe requiem (Altra King MT 1.0)
As with most things here, this isn’t really a proper review, though the first version of the King MT is still available if you wear a men’s 8, but a discussion of one thing as a salient example, of several trends playing out in the world of trail running and hiking shoes. The first thing…
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A return
I had this all outlined in my head, during the 90 minute walk to the put in. The ~5 miles of the North Fork of the Blackfoot spanning the Wilderness boundary was an early touchstone in my packrafting, one I sought out to test myself to the intimidating prospect of joining Forrest and Luc on…
Bedrock & Paradox 
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