Category: Packrafting
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Osprey GrabBag: looks dumb, works good
I came upon the GrabBag by accident; didn’t even know it existed until a few weeks ago. I had been thinkering about using a small fanny pack for the GrizzlyMan, to keep map and food instantly accessible, and thought that such a thing might be useful for backpacking as well. On-the-go accessibility is an ongoing…
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Off days and checking boxes
Structured or planned days off are a breeding ground for unproductive sloth and idleness. The point of rest days is to rest, but with a purpose. Merely sitting around runs a high risk of providing only physical respite, as well as allowing opportunities which might be otherwise hard to come by slip away. Not everyone…
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Why i might be full of shit
or: Credibility and experience in blogging The Black Hole of White Canyon, January 1, 2007. Blogging has irrevocably changed the face of writing about outdoor adventure, in almost all respects for the better. The chief problem today, perhaps different from days previous in scale only, is how to allot proper credence amongst the sea of…
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Fire when you need it
Firemaking is a skill like any other. Mystique to the contrary. You’ll only really need it when conditions are most difficult, and when circumstances conspire so you forget what good technique you know. Ergo, the first second and third rules of firemaking are as mundane as they are essential: practice. I was an indifferent firemaker…
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Windows of opportunity
Multiday outdoor trips succeed via planning: picking a route that suits the conditions, bringing appropriate gear, having sufficiently assessed said gear prior, and being prepared (materially and mentally) for contingencies. It makes me sad to see so many trips crash and burn, or underperform spectacularly, because of rudimentary things left unthought. All last week I…
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Packrafting still rules
Evidence: Myself, I’m psyched to put my boat’s new ski holders to use this weekend.
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LaSportiva XCountry (and Dirty Girl gaiter) review
Lets keep a short story short: I really like the minimal padding, small heel-toe drop, tread, and fit of these shoes. I think they can be used for the most rugged of long hikes, with proper preparation. Unfortunately the mesh upper is just not durable for me. I demand a lot out of shoes, and…
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The practice of practice
Boundary Trail, Glacier NP. I started this blog in late 2006, a significant date for my purposes today because it marked a rapidly growing interest/obsession with mountain biking. Serial obsessions have defined my life since childhood, but those of adulthood have necessarily been more defining. Mountain biking is thus far secondary only to climbing in…
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Rolltops, drawcords, and larger packs for cycling
I made another bikerafting descent of the main Flathead today, using experience from last trip to dial in the crossings better. I did fewer boat crossings (six versus nine), rode a lot more, and did the whole deal hours faster. It’s a sweet route. With slightly warmer weather and more confidence in my rigging abilities,…
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Preliminary data
Fleece, synthetic fill, and down: the big three insulators for outdoor garments since before I can remember. Synthetic’s have come on strong from the back of the pack in the last 15 years, down fill powers have crept higher, and fleece has undergone myriad transformations in an attempt to address the three reasons why so…
Bedrock & Paradox 
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