You may have noticed that there are a lot of people enjoying the wild spaces in Utah. A heck of a lot more than just a few years ago. Trails are more crowded, parking areas overflow onto the road, and garbage is stacked up in campsites. It seems that many of the folks recreating outside…
Tag: Backpacking
Explore Amethyst Basin in the High Uintas Wilderness
High peaks, lush basins, oodles of wildlife and breathtaking views are just a few of the joys awaiting hikers in the High Uintas Wilderness of Utah. It’s hard to pick a bad spot, in fact, it’s more of a game of which basin is the most beautiful. I’m not going to take a stab at…
Danner Mountain 600 EnduroWeave boot review
I sat on my bumper and laced up the boots with some misgivings. Was this a foolish decision to make in the name of gear testing? I truly do try to beat the hell out of all the gear I review, but was there any need to abuse my feet while doing it? A ten…
Mystery Ranch Scree backpack review
Open up my gear closet door, and you’ll be caught in an avalanche of backpacks. There are way too many different sizes and styles of packs for various outdoor uses. From backcountry skiing, to mountain biking, hiking, urban adventures, and climbing, you can spend thousands of dollars matching a pack for every activity. So why…
PackPillow review
A pillow is a luxury for hardcore backpackers, right? Well it doesn’t have to be. Gone are the days of resting your head on a bunched up, down jacket. With inventions like the PackPillow, you can save weight, be efficient about pack space, and still get a good night’s rest. The PackPillow is essentially four…
Klymit V Ultralite SL camping pad review
Keeping your load as light as possible when backpacking is imperative to comfort, stamina, and just being able to go farther without killing your shoulders. But the problem with a lot of lightweight gear is that you sacrifice comfort to save a few grams of weight. I’ve been a fan of Klymit’s camping gear for…
Slumberjack Nightfall 2 Tent teview
I was tired, cold, and in a bit of trouble when my girlfriend and I pulled into the Tropic Reservoir campground on a Friday night. Yes, mistakes were made on the journey, and I was on thin ice. I can’t imagine what might have happened if our tent was a pain in the ass to…
Explore Grandaddy Basin in the High Uintas
Purple areas on maps are often a non-starter for me. The purple indicates “high use” zones; places where you are sure to find loads of other hikers and campers. Personally, I go backpacking in part to escape from crowds, get lost in the surroundings, and enjoy some peace and quiet. It was with some trepidation…
Backpacking Buckskin Gulch from Wire Pass to White House
Buckskin Gulch is easily among my top 3 favorite hikes in all of Utah. Located in the Grand Staircase/Escalante National Monument near the Utah/Arizona border, Buckskin Gulch is widely considered to be the “longest slot canyon in the world.” After hiking through almost 15 miles of continuous, long and deep narrows in Buckskin, I’d say…
GCI Outdoor Packseat review
We all place a different value on comfort in the outdoors. Some folks forgo tents to lighten their backpack load. Others play the part of pack mule in order to ensure they have all that they could desire while enjoying nature. Hell, my SUV is loaded like I’m moving out of state when I’m really…