Multi-day backpacking excursions generally require you to sacrifice comfort in return for a lighter pack. One of the first things to stay at home is the camp chair. But with the Alite Designs Monarch Chair, you don’t have to rely on fallen logs to sit around the campfire. The Monarch is super light and packs…
Category: Backpacking
Hike to Ibantik Lake in the Uinta Mountains
There’s certainly no shortage of picturesque lakes to visit in Utah’s Uinta Mountains. With literally thousands of choices, it can be tough to select any one body of water for a destination. Ibantik Lake, nestled below the mighty Notch Peak ridgeline is definitely the hike. Choose this trek and you’ll enjoy a pristeen lake in…
Klymit Insulated Static V Lite camping pad review
Let’s face it: the worst part about backpacking is sleeping on the ground. Sure, you can pack a cushy, heavy sleeping pad to keep rocks and roots from digging into your back, but most are too heavy to carry miles into the mountains. But the good folks at Centerville-based Klymit have been offering super light…
Winter backpacking (in August) at Kamas Lake
Months before planning a backpacking trip to Kamas Lake in the Uinta Mountains, it seemed August would the the ideal time of year. Temperatures should be just right, an afternoon thunderstorm would be likely but not a concern, and the fishing should be hot. But as I exit my tent in the dawn hours and…
Vasque St. Elias GTX Hiking Boot review
It’s not exactly breaking news that Vasque makes killer outdoor footwear. The real news came at the 2013 Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, where I was informed that one of their more popular hiking boots, the Wasatch, was to be discontinued. I was crestfallen; no, I never owned a pair, but I wanted to. Numerous friends…
Climbing Tokewanna Peak
There are nineteen “13’ers” in Utah, and every one of these beasts can be found somewhere in the Uinta Mountain Range. One of the things that make Utah’s 13,000′ mountains unique is their distance from roads. Climbing these summits often means a multi-day backpacking trip, or at least a 15+ mile single day epic hike….
Granite Gear Packs for Adventure at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2013
Since 1986, Granite Gear has been offering hikers and packers a wide array of storage and travel bag solutions. Creativity and innovation are the cornerstones of the company’s products, and at this summer’s Outdoor Retailer trade show, they continued to push the industry with some inventive new offerings. Many new packs and daysacks will be…
Sierra Designs at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2013
When I sauntered up to the Sierra Designs booth at this summer’s Outdoor Retailer, I noticed a few changes. Okay, I noticed a lot of changes. Instead of asking “what’s new?” for SD in 2013-14, it might be easier to ask “what isn’t new?” The iconic brand has undergone a major redesign, ranging from the…
Backpacking Coyote Gulch
If you want life list hikes, Utah has them in spades. High on the list for me and a few friends had been Coyote Gulch in Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. This riparian canyon boasts a natural bridge, huge alcoves, numerous arches and a stream that flows year round. Well, after many years of dreaming…
Backpacking 101: Your Sleep System
Sleeping well in the backcountry is crucial; you don’t want to wake up sore and tired after a restless night. Of course, this is often easier said than done. Unfamiliar surroundings, chilly temperatures, creepy noises and your own imagination may team up to keep you from getting your beauty rest. One thing you can control…