(Learned about it from Tom Mangan on Twitter. One of the few times Twitter has done anything useful for me.)
review – Ultimate Directions Baffin backpack
My Adventure Racing Team just bought 8 from Mountain Gear in Washington State for $30 each.
An older model, so far we are LOVING them.
The Ultimate Direction Baffin is a dynamite hydration pack that’s packed with features including an insulated hydration pocket, making it a natural choice for extreme hot or cold weather.
Features:
* Maintain the pack shape and never get overloaded – the contoured hydration pocket maintains pack’s intended shape and has a drainage hole at the bottom
* Large main pocket offers easy access while a front panel pocket and two side mesh pockets let your organize gear
* Contoured shoulder harness and removable waistbelt let you carry the load in comfortSpecifications:
* Capacity: 1000 cu in
* Weight: 1 lb 14 oz
* Fluid capacity: 64 fl oz
* Material: 420-denier nylon
Regular price $69.95. Sale Price: $29.98. – details
MSR Carbon Reflex 2 tent – WOW
I’m seriously looking at this one.
… we were ecstatic to find out about MSR’s two-man Carbon Reflex 2 (pictured at right). Similar to the popular Single Hubba tent (which is only for one person), they’ve done away with the hubs and are using carbon fiber poles. What does this one weigh in at? Two pounds, thirteen ounces. One ounce heavier than the Single Hubba, but for double the campers.
Outside – Outdoor Retailer: The Shows Lightest and Brainiest Tents
It’s not yet on the MSR website, as I write.
(via The Adventure Blog)
great idea – Hike Hacker
Based loosely on the wonderful Lifehacker blog, Tom Mangan is putting together a similar blog for US.
… devoted to handy hints for hikers, backpackers, etc.
My darling spouse has already contributed several tips for organizing and de-skunking a gear closet, for example.
Right now I’m thinking of keeping it down to a half-dozen simple categories:
1. Hygiene
2. Fitness
3. Gear
4. Navigation
5. Food
6. SafetySuggestions welcome, as always …
Tom Mangan on Two-Heel Drive.
Click through if interested. Especially if you want to contribute.
Two Knobby Tires – Colorado hiking blog
Chronicling hiking, biking, and camping in Colorado
I’m just checking out Robert Miller’s Colorado blog. Nice. He includes photos, videos and good maps.
Here’s one example post on Rocky Montain National Park:
… Bear Lake, Nymph Lake, and Dream Lake are a short distance from the trailhead providing instant scenic gratification for most hikers. Because of the easy accessibility and instant scenic gratification …
Rocky Mountain National Park: Bear Lake Trailhead – Two Knobby Tires
This blog supports a gear site, also called Two Knobby Tires.
… I’m pondering a hiking trip to CO.
Tahoe Rim Trail in September
John Fedak just came off the Tahoe Rim Trail. He advised me:
… Hands down the best TRT leg is the 35 miles between Barker Pass to Echo Lake in the Desolation Wilderness over Dicks Pass. (With a side trip to summit Mt Tallac for its unparalleled Tahoe view)
To get to 50 miles you’d want to extend that to either Tahoe City or Big Meadow (North and South respectivly) Tahoe City is logistically better (The trail goes right into town) but the latter is probably a bit more scenic. …
I’ve decided to hike the section marked in red:
Starting Echo Lake and hiking up to Tahoe City. I’ll begin Monday, September 22nd. (I’ve got an Adventure Race on the 26th in Tahoe.)
John posts a hiking site rich with annotated hiking photos. Check his most recent trip: Tahoe Rim Trail: Echo Lake to Big Meadow
One of his pics from that trip:
Stairsteps in a manmade section of the trail.
Leave a comment if you have any more advice. This is my first hike on the TRT.
Chilco Mountains hike, Idaho
Conner and Dave Adlard look down on their cabin home from atop Chilco Mountain between Sandpoint and Coeur d’Alene. (Close to Athol, specifically.)
This was their first trip up the mountain.
We carried on “jiking” (running the flats and downs, walking the ups) to South Chilco Mountain hoping for a good view of Lake Coeur d’Alene, as promised by our guidebook. We never did find that vista.
The view of Lake Pend Oreille was FABULOUS, however.
We hiked in from the trailhead at the junction of Forest Roads 332 and 385. Moderate difficulty. About 9mi return to South Chilco Mountain summit.
Views from the closer (2mi) Chilco Mountain top were better. We will give the further South peak a miss, next time.
more photos from our hike on flickr
hike the Rubicon Trail, Lake Tahoe
… NOT to be confused with the Rubicon four-by-four trail.
We were looking for a good trail run close to Squaw Valley. A local Adventure Racer, Todd Jackson, sent us to cross the Rubicon.
Good call.
In the 1880s, a Sacramento newsman compared Lake Tahoe’s sapphire depths to bluing solution, so astonishing was the color. Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) said Lake Tahoe’s air was pure enough for angels. Clear sky and water still startle the senses here, especially when you spend the day close to shore on the 6 1/2-mile Rubicon Trail. …
Lake Tahoe trail casts a spell – Laura Read
It was crowded with families, hikers, leashed dogs. But gorgeous.
vista from high on the trail
I loved it.
Adventure Racers cooling off after the run
Kevin Gong has an excellent trip report with photos: Rubicon Trail, D.L. Bliss State Park and Emerald Bay State Park
hike the West Coast Trail Aug. 23rd
From email:
I have a two-person permit for the West Coast Trail for park entry from Port Renfrew on Saturday August 23rd, 2008. Unfortunately I have broken my ankle and will not be able to make the trip. I am also no longer able to obtain a refund as I am within the 21 day cancellation window. I thought that you might be connected to a network of folks who may be interested in using my reservation as I know they are difficult to come by. My cost was $300 US, but I would consider any reasonable offer. Thank you for your time.
Nick Juhle
734.717.7294
bear visits U.S. Senior Open Golf
The Broadmoor’s East Course was quite a bear Friday.
Difficult pin placements and faster, drier greens flustered the field and only five golfers managed to shoot below par, including Fred Funk, whose 1-under 69 gave him the lead at the halfway point of the U.S. Senior Open in Colorado Springs, Colo. …
Stealing the show, however, was a black bear that ambled out of the mountains in the morning and crossed the 13th fairway before checking out spectators outside the ropes.
Nobody was harmed, and neither was the bear.
“(Jack) Nicklaus isn’t here, so I guess that’s a substitute,” cracked Funk. …
besthike.com 