Gear Review: Seek Outside Divide 4500 Ultralight External Frame Backpack
After their first big trip, it seems that many backpackers put some thought and energy into reducing their pack weight. My first couple of overnight trips were miserable, a direct result of carrying too much weight. After keeping track of the gear I carried on several hikes versus what gear was actually used, I was able to reduce pack weight by simply leaving unused items at home. The … Read More
Devil’s Chair via South Fork/Big Rock Creek
The area surrounding Devil’s Chair is known for it’s unique geology. Looking across the canyon (called the Devil’s Punchbowl) you can see how the San Andreas fault has changed the landscape. The area is very interesting and I wished I had spent more time exploring there before moving. With my cross-country move in March, I’ve fallen way behind on editing photos and … Read More
#ThrowbackThursday: Grand Canyon – South Kaibab to Bright Angel Loop, April 2005
It seems like a lifetime ago. I can’t even remember the names of everyone in the pictures. 😳 Looking back on some of these trips on which we were so unprepared, I shudder to think what could have happened… I guess we had youth and luck on our sides. We wanted to do this trip as a 2-3 day backpack, but … Read More
First Look: Hi-Tec V Lite Flash Force Low I Trail Shoe
Why Buy? In early March I was contacted by Hi-Tec to see if I was interested in testing anything from their hiking line. Coincidentally, I was looking for a pair of low top hiker/trail runners to use in conjunction with a set of sole-stiffening insoles. Over the last several years, I’ve tried to transition from my heavy backpacking boots to trail runners … Read More
Photos: Bridge to Nowhere (San Gabriel Mountains, Azusa CA)
Bridge to Nowhere had been on radar for a couple of years, but with the CA drought, we always decided to hike other areas. Luckily only a couple of weeks before I left CA, we had a nice day with some recent rainfall. I decided it was finally time to head out there. It’s a great hike for beginners. If you’re just … Read More
First Look: BabyBjörn Baby Carrier One Outdoors
Why Buy? We are an active family and involving our children in our outdoor hobbies is very important to us. Our youngest (~5 months old) needs to be carried in order to participate in these hobbies (for obvious reasons), but we did not own a baby carrier that fit me well. When my first son was born, the BabyBjörn Baby Carrier … Read More
#FlashbackFriday – Be WITH your kids
Early this morning, I started thinking about what I would share for #FlashbackFriday. Digging through some old tweets, I ran across an article I retweeted last year.
Transitioning From Heavy Backpacking Boots to Trail Runners, Part I
Why? As with any sport or activity, hiking has it’s adages that you’ll hear over and over once you’re spending time with participants of that activity. As a hiker, two things that you’re likely to hear are “cotton kills” and “1 pound on your feet equals 5 pounds on your back.” While “cotton kills” immediately made sense to me, I didn’t … Read More
Testing Cold Weather Gear in April… Part 3
Since moving back to NH, I’ve put more thought into deciding what gear I’d carry if I were backpacking in cold & rainy weather. Tonight it is cold (26° predicted, 22° with windchill), so I’m planning to spend the night outside. Here is some of the gear that I’ll be using/testing tonight and that appears in the video below. TarpTent – Rainbow … Read More
#FlashbackFriday – Hiking with Kids: Car Camping and Hiking in Joshua Tree, May 24 2014
With Kids to Parks Day 2016 fast approaching, I’ve been thinking about the hiking and camping trips with our oldest son. Just over two years ago, my wife and I took him on his first (car) camping trip and first visit to a national park. Leaving work that Friday, I was excited to get away for a night, but dreading the packing and … Read More