Category: Skiing
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One year later (backpacks for the woods, part 5)
One year ago I wrote a series of posts on packs for wilderness adventure. I discussed how packs work, why we owned the packs we did at the time, and details of several of my own packs. True to form, none of those larger packs are still in our possession. This post will discuss why.…
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Banff 2012: the death of the spectacular
I have in my possession an unpublished essay by Arne Naess entitled “The Spectacular- An Enemy?” According to Bill Devall, he wrote it in the mid-80s after visiting Canyonlands National Park for the first time. At the moment that binder is buried in a box under boxes down in the garage, so I cannot quote…
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Wood stove acalculia
Some numbers to consider: -fully tricked Megalight (linelocs, center guy points each with 12′ of line, stove boot): 29 oz -homemade wood stove (Walmart can): 16 oz -5 foot long, 3 inch diameter stainless stove pipe, with spark screen, end ring, and three cable rings: 15 oz Installing the stove boot is easy. I bought…
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Skis by numbers
Chart by Measured Mass. If you’re a backcountry skier, gear dork, or just like looking at numbers aggregated well, you must go read the above post. As in, now. And the rest of the blog is quite interesting, too.
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La Sportiva Sideral: numbers and rationale
First, the numbers: in mondo 28 the shells weigh 37 ounces (each, w/o footbed or powerstrap), the liners 6.7 ounces. Not too bad when you consider my size 46 BCX11 pleather three pin boots are 44 ounces each. I use size 45 Sportiva trail runners, for a generous fit in the toes, and the…
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Ruff, ruff
I cannot recall specifically, but it was in one of those first-person life/adventure novels I read in elementary school that I first learned about the power of fur. The heroine of said novel, intended to be a kid just like me, hunted seals and got lost and then found on the tundra among other adventurous…
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Pimp your ‘Mid
As mentioned in my introductory post, some modifications were in order for the Megalight. Yes, you can buy one with these, but it can be more illustrative to roll your own. First up, mid panel reinforced guylines. In the grand scheme, as compared to (for instance) backpack straps, shelter tie-outs don’t receive much force. The…
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NRASW: the best 20 dollars I spent this year
Yesterday I attended the Northern Rockies Avalanche Safety Workshop; and was thoroughly impressed. Avalanches are unique in the world of objectives hazards. There are no books which use hundreds of pages to discuss rockfall. There are scientific conferences on Grizzly behavior, but none which are targeted for passionate lay hikers and focus on attack avoidance. …
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Skis, ski swaps, mounts, and demounts
Though the start of a real ski season could still be over two months away, it is ski swap time in most mountain towns. I still have a hard time getting my head ’round how expensive these fancy sticks can be, and generally prefer to spend money on trips rather than gear for trips, so…
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Yellowstone NP winter use plan, Comment
Yellowstone National Park is in the final public comment period for their new(est) winter use plan. Given how long this process has taken, and the good chance of it being controversial, comment now. Whichever plan is settled upon is likely to be in effect for a while. You may comment (easily) and read the very…
Bedrock & Paradox 
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