Category: Packrafting
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Functional remoteness
Most analyses of remoteness in the lower 48 are misleading. They ignore on the ground factors, though for the understandable reason of accessible numbers to crunch. There is the famous claim that the place furthest from any road in the lower 48 is a bit east of the Thorofare valley in Yellowstone. However, 19/20s of…
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Anorak conversions for blown main zippers
It is to be expected that a heavily used jacket with a #3 main zip, like the 2.1 year old Rab Xenon pictured here, will have zipper failure within the useful life of the garment. While manufacturers continue to use these zips on weekly-use pieces, for reasons of weight, cost, and pliability, repairs will be…
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Guidebooks and South Fork access issues
White River from Haystack, looking west towards the South Fork of the Flathead, Bob Marshall country. This morning I amended, with considerably reluctance, my Crown of the Continent packrafting guidebook. There are now three short paragraphs toward the beginning, right under the obligatory disclaimer, encouraging present and future boaters to be mindful of their visual…
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Review the review: OGL on Headlamps
I may have given them some shit recently, but a few weeks ago Outdoor Gear Lab atoned for any past sins and then some, with an outstanding headlamp review. I can’t think of anything they left unexamined. Breadth (37 lamps) and depth (beam patterns, real world run times) are present. Basic theory (why have a…
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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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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…
Bedrock & Paradox 
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