Category: Skiing
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The BD Hot Forge Hoody is awesome
I’m highlighting this medium-light down jacket both because it provides a great example of how to do such a thing well, and because persistent shoppers can still find it well under 200 dollars in certain sizes and colors, which is a bargain. Black Diamond declines to specific the amount of fill in the Hot Forge…
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Bear aware, maybe
Last week a Forest Service law enforcement officer, Flathead native, and longtime recreator in bear country was killed by a bear near West Glacier. According to rumor, and the local paper, the bear was probably a Grizzly, and the gentleman collided with the bear while going quite fast down a gentle, tightly forested descent on…
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Closure options for large packs
A good, simple, light closure for a big (top circumference in excess of 40 inches) pack is somewhat difficult to do well. Volume in a big pack can fluctuate significantly, and pack height above the frame needs to be controlled so it does not go bobble-headed and flop around. Additionally, weatherproofing and easy access for…
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11 months
The skiing this Satuday was almost certain to be terrible. Temperatures barely below freezing make for wet, sticky, slow snow; and poor visibility removes the other element which might compensate with appeal. I had promised myself that if Little Bear woke early Saturday we’d go skiing, regardless of all but the most horrid conditions. I…
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Rab Novak
For several years now I’ve been looking for an ideal fleece insulating layer, with only modest success. This layer should be warm enough for stand-alone use in many three-season conditions, as light as possible, have minimal to no lycra in the fabric, fit over a baselayer but under a shell, and have a few pockets…
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wilderness in Wilderness
The Bob is awesome. Video by Michael Reavis. Anyone who’s been out in the woods a lot and has been paying attention should be aware of this problem; that even the quietest, most fleeting and “natural” of human travel in the wild has a significant impact on the plants and animals who live there full…
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Seek Outside pack buying guide
Seek Outside doesn’t actually make that many packs, but for those who’ve never seen one getting acquainted with the options and choosing well can be daunting. I’ve put serious miles on a Unaweep, Evolution, and Revolution, and am accumulating miles on the new Divide 4500, so I like to think I have something to offer…
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First Lite Aerowool
As I’ve written before, the task of baselayers fabrics made from merino-polyester blends is to unite the moisture management and funk resistance of wool with the quick wicking/drying and durability of polyester. Numerous variations have made good strides towards this end, but all have come up short in one way or another. Kuiu’s ultra merino…
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The objectivity of vertical gain
Objective data for evaluating hiking and backpacking performance is a useful thing to have. Day to day and year to year your perception of speed and exertion can change, often significantly, but fast is fast and when heading towards a tough trip confirmation of progress can help formulate realistic expectations. When hiking there are two…
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BD Alpine Start hoody: the final word
Black Diamond’s Alpine Start hoody hasn’t changed much in the two years it’s been on the market (and since I first wrote about it). The material, a light and tough softshell with excellent breathability and darn good weatherproofing, is unchanged and remains the heart of what is (still) the most versatile and all-around best outdoor…
Bedrock & Paradox 
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