Category: Packrafting
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The Grand Eight: Days 5 and 6
Just because we were in the second half of the trip did not mean that suffering was not be to had. I wasn’t any more sore on the morning of day 5 than previous days, but legs and feet didn’t feel any less abused either. The simple fact of it was that we had passed…
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The Grand Eight: Days 3 and 4
Waking in a narrow defile was a great way to start the day. As was the case every morning of the trip, it took a little encouragement to stand up and get the legs and feet functioning normally. We immediately rapped the short chockstone drop, did a few more downclimbs, and popped out of the…
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The Grand Eight: Days 1 and 2
It is cold. The vague two-track to 150 Mile canyon ends at a weathered pinon log and barbed wire corral with a spectacular view down into the namesake drainage. We arrived at dusk last night, and the wind was howling. A bit on edge due to anticipation and the long process of spotting my car…
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The Grand Eight: Prologue
A big, technical trip in the Grand Canyon has been in the back of my mind for quite a few years, and back in early January I decided to make it happen now. Simply put: when I ran the numbers I couldn’t think of a reason not too. The time could be made free, the…
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5 photos from the Grand Canyon
A simple, challenging idea: take five and only five photos, out of over 500, which best represent a week long trip in a very big place. This trip was a spectacular success. That I’m home again, after so many tough miles with no issues, and a 1000 mile drive yesterday, hardly seems real. More to…
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The planning pile
After you’ve picked a good route, picked a good partner, done all the relevant research, and built the best list you can, the only thing left is to make sure you don’t forget anything. On longer trips this is rather important, and can be surprisingly difficult. If all you leave behind is your spoon, little…
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RIT die for synthetic garments
I have issues with hats. This is mostly a performance thing. While the scientific robustness of the old claim that you loose an outsize amount of heat through your head is coming into question, the fact that temperature regulation via hats is fast and easy remains unassailable. As readers will know, I have a brain…
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The River Paddling Protection Act
The River Paddling Protection Act has passed the house, and is currently under consideration by the senate. If you have opinions about wilderness paddling in Yellowstone National Park, now is a rare occasion when speaking up might have an effect. The bill is very simple. It nullifies several existing regulations prohibiting boating in Yellowstone and…
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The Black Diamond Alpine Start Hoody
Surely, the windshirt quest will never stop. Finding an ideal active layer for days which are neither warm nor arctic, neither calm nor storming fiercely, involves delicate balancing of contradictory attributes. The shirt must be significantly wind resistant, but quite breathable. It must be light, but tough, especially given that a windshirt will be used…
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First Annual Packraft Roundup
Put on by the American Packrafting Association, the first annual Packraft Roundup will be at the Big Creek Campground on the North Fork of the Flathead, July 11-13th. A one day swiftwater rescue course will be held on Friday the 11th. Cost for the former is 30 bucks (including camping), and 75 for the later. …
Bedrock & Paradox 
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