The dilemma: you want to backpack somewhere close to home in a beautiful mountain setting, and have the place to yourself. Sounds like just the kind of tall order that most hikers dream up every weekend. The answer: Hidden Lake in the western Uintas. This serene alpine lake delivers on all three of those demands…
Tag: Backpacking
SteriPEN Adventurer Opti review
On long backpack trips, clean drinking water is vital. Nobody wants to carry heavy water from home in the pack, but water from streams and lakes can be infected with microscopic bacteria that will ruin the trip (and make you dig a bunch of holes in the woods.) There are several options available for filtering…
Hike to White Pine Lake in Little Cottonwood
White Pine Lake is a beautiful reservoir high in White Pine Canyon, nestled in an alpine cirque at 10,000 feet where the water is held back by a small dam. The lake is the main draw here for hikers in the summer months, and for good reason. The clear, blue water, surrounded by an amphitheater…
Get outside in Utah during Great Outdoors Month
Put down that Wii, get outside and experience real life! And what better time to explore your inner nature side than during Great Outdoors Month! Horseback riding, rafting down the Green and Colorado Rivers, swimming, running, boating on Lake Powell, rock climbing, fishing on the Provo River, golfing in the Heber Valley, backpacking and biking…
Discovering Lost Canyon
Canyonlands National Park is a vast area in southeastern Utah filled with, you guessed it, canyons. The powerful draw of the desert is overwhelming in this haven of red rocks and sand. Lizards, ravens and a handful of other hearty creatures call this place home, but little else can thrive here except the spirit of…
Camelbak Vantage 35 backpack review
Camelbak has seriously expanded their product line in recent years, releasing a pack for just about every outdoor pursuit. From backcountry ski packs to backpacking haulers, Camelbak has a hydration pack for pretty much everything. New this year is the Vantage 35, a 2400 cubic inch pack made for long day hikes or overnight trips….
Christmas 2009 outdoor gear wish list
As an outdoor junkie, the latest in technical gear is pretty much all I want for Christmas (at least as far as gifts are concerned.) I’m always happy to receive an REI gift card so I can go out and buy my holiday outdoor present, but sometimes it is nice to daydream about getting some of the more expensive stuff that’s out there. So here is my pie-in-the-sky Christmas wish list for 2009 that may give you some gift ideas for your own outdoor junkie.
Black Diamond Orbit Lantern review
Lanterns have long been an integral part of campsites for generations. Like the crackle of a campfire, the hiss of a gas lantern embodies the experience of spending the night outside. But gas lanterns are large, heavy, and require fuel, making them inappropriate for long backpacking trips. As a result, headlamps are a preferred source of light for backpackers. Although they’re great for setting up a tent or making dinner in the dark, headlamps don’t create the warm, glowing atmosphere that a lantern provides.
Guyot Designs Cup/Bowl Set review
Serious campers and backpackers are always on the lookout for the next big thing among lightweight cooking gear. But rather than spend tons of cash for space-age titanuim pots and bowls, there is a new option out there. Silicon. Enter the Guyot Squishy Bowl.