Backpacking Light Magazine

Backpacking Light Magazine http://www.backpackinglight.com/ Latest news, views, and reviews about lightweight hiking and backpacking from BackpackingLight.com, the website of Backpacking Light Magazine. en Copyright 2001-2006 Beartooth Media, Inc. BackpackingLight Magazine http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/bplcomlogonew.gif http://www.backpackinglight.com BackpackingLight Magazine Comfort and Moisture Transport in Lightweight Wool and Synthetic Base Layers http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/comfort_moisture_transport_wool_synthetic_clothing.html <blockquote>An in-depth comparison of the properties of wool and synthetic fabric for base layers yielded some surprising results.</blockquote> by | <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/thumb/comfort-moisture-transport-wool-synthetic-clothing-thumbnail.jpg' align='right'> <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/bullet-arrow-red-small.gif'><a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/comfort_moisture_transport_wool_synthetic_clothing.html'> Read this article at BackpackingLight.com</a>View All: <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/sf/Technology/Test Reports/index.html'>Test Reports</a> &gt; <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/s/Technology/index.html'>Technology</a> 24: Nine Months 'til Summer http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/nine_months_to_summer.html <blockquote>Episode 3: The first big snowfall of the season (in September!) had us traversing the Hyalite-Cottonwood divide for snow hiking and camping.</blockquote> by Ryan Jordan | 2009-11-17 Snow comes to the mountains of Montana intermittently throughout the summer. I usually see more serious snow arrive in September, but even those storms are usually pretty short and kept to the higher elevations. October is where it's at if you're a snow junkie, but in some years, even October in Montana can make you feel like you've been erroneously displaced. In other words, until the snow really comes to the Rockies (usually in December), all bets are off and any reliability in snow forecasting is sketchy at best. That's why I was pretty excited to watch our first big snow of the year come across the radar in late September. By September 28, with snowflakes falling and piling up, I contracted a cold. After a few days in bed, I couldn't stand it anymore: I was itching to get outside and film another episode of "24." I may have not quite been healed, as I felt awful on this hike. I was exhausted, I froze, my head hurt, my body ached, and I couldn't stomach any food. But it was Montana's first big snow of the season, and I wanted to see it! I have no regrets. My friend Ryan Connelly and I enjoyed each other's company in one of the most beautiful locales close to my home, on one of my favorite routes: a traverse of the Hyalite-Cottonwood divide. Twenty minutes of driving, a few hours of hiking, an overnight camp on the ridge, and another half-day of hiking brought us right into the back door of our friend Seth's home on upper Cottonwood Creek. Snow, wind, and cold temperatures in the first part of the hike gave way to warm sunshine as we hiked out. It all added up to the perfect recipe for an overnight getaway. Most of that snow has melted, Indian Summer has come again, but I'm not depressed that it's only nine more months until summer. I love snow hiking... ultralight style, of course. ARTICLE OUTLINE <ul compact> <li>Introduction</li> <li>Video</li> <li>Gear</li> <li>Photo Essay</li> </ul> # WORDS: 1140 # PHOTOS: 8 <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/thumb/nine-months-to-summer-tn.jpg' align='right'> <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/bullet-arrow-red-small.gif'><a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/nine_months_to_summer.html'> Read this article at BackpackingLight.com</a>View All: <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/sf/Techniques/Techniques/index.html'>Techniques</a> &gt; <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/s/Techniques/index.html'>Techniques</a> 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 MST (M) GoLite Footwear Competition and Fire Reviews http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/golite_competition_fire_reviews.html <blockquote>GoLite Footwear has developed a unique underfoot suspension system that largely accomplishes their intentions. The shoes are comfortable, but there are durability concerns for the soles.</blockquote> by Darin Banner | 2009-11-17 I haul myself out of my packraft and onto the rocky shore, wet from the tops of my farmer johns down to the GoLite shoes on my feet. Grasping my paddle with one tired arm, I reach down with the other and grab the pack, strapped to the bow of my packraft, and pull both it and the raft out of the water and onto the rocks. Looking down the river at the souse hole I narrowly avoided (by arresting myself on the shore), I wonder if I'm up to rafting Bear Trap Canyon, which is running at 4000 cfs. Time for some portage. Mounting the pack and packraft onto my back, I join the other Backpacking Light instructors moving downriver over wet stones and up steep banks. As I move along, I'm impressed by how well my soaked shoes grip the rocks and dirt - I feel very stable on my feet and am able to move securely down to the next put-in site. ARTICLE OUTLINE <ul compact> <li> Introduction </li> <li> Brief History of GoLite Footwear </li> <li> The Testing </li> <li> The Review <ul compact> <li> First Impressions </li> <li> Footbeds </li> <li> Snowshoeing </li> <li> Backpacking and Trail Running </li> <li> Packrafting </li> <li> Wilderness Trekking Course </li> </ul> <li> Conclusion </li> <li>Specifications: Manufacturer:, Year/Model:, Materials: - Competition - Upper: Ballistic Mesh and TPU Cage; Outsole/Midsole: Rubber, TPU and PU, Last:, Size:, Weight:, Colour:, MSRP:</li> <li> What's Good </li> <li> What's Not So Good </li> </ul> # WORDS: 2640 # PHOTOS: 25 # TABLES: 1 <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/thumb/golite-competition-fire-tn.jpg' align='right'> <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/bullet-arrow-red-small.gif'><a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/golite_competition_fire_reviews.html'> Read this article at BackpackingLight.com</a>View All: <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/sf/Gear/Reviews/index.html'>Reviews</a> &gt; <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/s/Gear/index.html'>Gear</a> 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 MST (M) Mountain Hardwear Phantom 32 Sleeping Bag Review http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/mh_phantom32_bag_review.html <blockquote>A warm, refined sleeping bag, but not the lightest in its class.</blockquote> by Will Rietveld | 2009-11-10 A three-season down sleeping bag is a core item for ultralight backpacking because it offers the best combination of warmth, light weight, and seasonal versatility. I prefer a mummy style bag rated at around 30 F for mountain backpacking. The mummy design eliminates drafts, I can wear extra clothes inside and "mummy up" to extend the bag's warmth on cold nights, and I can open it up and use it as a quilt on warm nights. The popular Mountain Hardwear Phantom 32 sleeping bag (with a temperature rating of 32 F) has been around a few years. Its main features are 15 denier (0.85 oz/yd2) shell fabric with DWR, 800 fill power down, a full length side zipper, and a six chamber sculptured hood. It has received a few refinements along the way, and Mountain Hardwear deserves kudos for keeping the upgrades nearly weight neutral. The original Phantom 32 had a 2/3-length side zipper and weight of 22.7 ounces, while the current bag has a full side zipper and weighs 23.1 ounces. Weight saving refinements throughout the bag nearly offset the added weight of a longer zipper. The Phantom's lightweight shell fabric has a very soft hand, and its taffeta lining is very durable. The #5CN YKK zipper auto locks, so it doesn't open when you expand the bag, and it operates from outside or inside the bag. ARTICLE OUTLINE <ul compact> <li> Description</li> <li> Performance</li> <li> Comparisons</li> <li> Assessment</li> <li>Specifications: Manufacturer, Year/Model, Style, What's Included, Fill, Construction, Measured Loft, Manufacturer, Stuffed Size, Weight, Sizes, Fabrics, Features, MSRP</li> </ul> # WORDS: 1630 # PHOTOS: 6 # TABLES: 1 <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/thumb/mh-phantom32-bag-review-tn.jpg' align='right'> <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/bullet-arrow-red-small.gif'><a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/mh_phantom32_bag_review.html'> Read this article at BackpackingLight.com</a>View All: <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/sf/Gear/Reviews/index.html'>Reviews</a> &gt; <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/s/Gear/index.html'>Gear</a> 10 Nov 2009 00:02:00 MST Backpacking: Baby on Board http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/babyonboard.html <blockquote>Hiking through the French Pyrenees is challenging for any young couple hoping to enjoy some relaxation and romance in between climbing passes and breaking camp. The afternoon heat - often ending in a violent thunderstorm - brings more than one overloaded backpacker to boiling point. Now enter a six-kilo, breast-fed, three-month-old baby. Great family trip or a bad idea?</blockquote> by Nick Meynen | 2009-11-10 It all started long before our first child arrived, with the simple idea to walk the Pyrenees from coast to coast, a distance of about 900 kilometers (560 miles). Previous experiences in the same mountains were pleasant, and after 3,000 km (1,860 mi) in the Indian and Nepalese Himalaya, walking was almost equal to being. The only real challenge seemed to be making the existential experience of walking in nature as pleasant and healthy for our daughter Flora as it already is for me and my wife, Fany. By the time we set off on the Atlantic coast, reaching the other coast seemed a dream from the past, just a little too ambitious, but this big dream gave us the motivation needed to carefully prepare ourselves. Besides, at least we got started on some trek. We both get the shivers at the thought of succumbing to social pressures to finally act like we're "supposed" to: buy a car and go for all-inclusive Club Med holidays. So we decided to at least give it a try and see where we would get. As soon as we could no longer guarantee our daughter's safety, which happened 250 km (155 mi) later, we called it quits. Before that point, all three of us enjoyed a trekking and camping experience that I would recommend to any newly expanded family who feels the need to get some fresh air after the first hectic months with a newborn. I would also recommend it to any baby who wants to get to know the parents and the world he or she just entered. ARTICLE OUTLINE <ul compact> <li> Let's Get Some Fresh Air</li> <li> Getting Started</li> <li> Learning from Experience</li> <li> Better Than Going To A Movie</li> <li> On the Trail</li> <li> At Breaking Point</li> <li> The Tricky Parts</li> <li> There's a Time for Everything</li> </ul> # WORDS: 4820 # PHOTOS: 17 <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/thumb/babyonboard-thumb.jpg' align='right'> <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/bullet-arrow-red-small.gif'><a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/babyonboard.html'> Read this article at BackpackingLight.com</a>View All: <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/sf/Techniques/Techniques/index.html'>Techniques</a> &gt; <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/s/Techniques/index.html'>Techniques</a> 10 Nov 2009 00:00:00 MST (M) Rab Microlight Jacket Review http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/rab_microlight_jacket_review.html <blockquote>Trim-fitting ultralight three-season down jacket with a great shell and basic feature set, but its numerous horizontal seams allow down fragments to leak out.</blockquote> by Will Rietveld | 2009-11-03 An ultralight three-season down insulated jacket with high loft down, very light shell fabric, a minimal feature set, and weight under 14 ounces is an essential part of an ultralight or lightweight backpacking kit for summertime backpacking in the mountains or shoulder season camping most anywhere. Down insulation provides the most warmth for its weight, so it's the insulation preferred by backpackers and mountaineers in all but very wet conditions. An array of jackets is available - differing in fabrics, features, and amount of down insulation - so there's a jacket to fit most hiker's needs and preferences. Look for a Backpacking Light State of the Market article on ultralight three-season down insulated jackets in Spring 2010 that will present the options and assist with the selection process. ARTICLE OUTLINE <ul compact> <li> Introduction</li> <li> Description</li> <li> Performance</li> <li> Comparisons and Assessment</li> <li> Specifications</li> </ul> # WORDS: 1310 # PHOTOS: 7 # TABLES: 1 <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/thumb/rab-microlight-jacket-review-thumb.jpg' align='right'> <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/bullet-arrow-red-small.gif'><a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/rab_microlight_jacket_review.html'> Read this article at BackpackingLight.com</a>View All: <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/sf/Gear/Reviews/index.html'>Reviews</a> &gt; <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/s/Gear/index.html'>Gear</a> 03 Nov 2009 00:05:00 MST (M) Le Parcour de Wild Race Report http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/parcour.html <blockquote>With temperatures that ranged from -5 F to 40 F, the Bob Marshall Wilderness threw some formidable weather our way and reminded us: this stuff ain't for the faint of heart!</blockquote> by Kevin Sawchuk and Dave Chenault | 2009-11-03 On October 11, 2009, we left Rogers Pass at the southern end of the Bob Marshall Wilderness for a traverse of what is arguably the wildest and most complex wilderness in the Lower 48. Our goal was to be the first team to arrive at Marias Pass and to get there via an elegant route. Rogers Pass and Marias Pass are separated by 100 miles if you draw a straight line from one pass to the other. However, that route didn't look very promising! ARTICLE OUTLINE <ul compact> </ul> # WORDS: 2160 # PHOTOS: 23 <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/thumb/parcour-thumb.jpg' align='right'> <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/bullet-arrow-red-small.gif'><a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/parcour.html'> Read this article at BackpackingLight.com</a>View All: <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/sf/Techniques/Techniques/index.html'>Techniques</a> &gt; <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/s/Techniques/index.html'>Techniques</a> 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 MST (M) Olympus E-620 Digital SLR Camera Review http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/olympus_e620.html <blockquote>The E-620 is the lightest mid-sized or "crop sensor" format DSLR with all the functionality and image quality for serious backcountry still photography - even in difficult situations like handheld shots in low morning and evening light.</blockquote> by Alan Dixon | 2009-10-27 I found the E-620 quick and easy to use. Almost every function/adjustment is one or two button presses away. Many direct access external controls (buttons, control knob, and Super Control Panel) give speedy access to all commonly used functions. There is little need to get buried deep in the complex menus that sometime plague sophisticated DSLRs, though the camera is also extremely customizable if you want. The camera controls are so intuitive that my wife, who rarely uses a DSLR, came rapidly up to speed using the E-620. She mastered its basic adjustments and was taking good pictures after just a few hours in the field. ARTICLE OUTLINE <ul> <li> Introduction:</li> <li> In Comparison</li> <li> Field Performance <li> Controls and Operation</li> <li> Optical Viewfinder</li> <li> Dynamic Range</li> <li> Shadow Adjustment Technology</li> <li> High Quality JPEG Images</li> <li> Low Light, High ISO performance / Image Stabilization</li> <li> Available (High Quality) Lightweight Lenses</li> <li> Small IR Remote</li> <li> Carrying the E-620 in the Backcountry</li> <li> What's Good</li> <li> What's Not So Good</li> <li> Conclusion</li> <li>Specifications</li> </ul> # WORDS: 4190 # PHOTOS: 17 # TABLES: 1 <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/thumb/olympus-e620-thumb.jpg' align='right'> <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/bullet-arrow-red-small.gif'><a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/olympus_e620.html'> Read this article at BackpackingLight.com</a>View All: <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/sf/Gear/Reviews/index.html'>Reviews</a> &gt; <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/s/Gear/index.html'>Gear</a> 27 Oct 2009 00:05:00 MST Sno-Seal Original Beeswax Waterproofing for Leather http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/snoseal_review.html <blockquote>Treat your leather nicely, THEN abuse the ever-loving daylights out of it.</blockquote> by Roger Caffin | 2009-10-27 If you have leather trim on your shoes, you need to look after it when wet, and Atsko Sno-Seal Original Beeswax Waterproofing is the stuff of choice for experienced walkers. ARTICLE OUTLINE <ul> <li>Manufacturer</li> <li>Year/Model</li> <li>Manufacture</li> <li>Material</li> <li>Capacity</li> <li>MSRP</li> </ul> # WORDS: 810 # PHOTOS: 3 # TABLES: 1 <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/thumb/snoseal-thumb.jpg' align='right'> <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/bullet-arrow-red-small.gif'><a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/snoseal_review.html'> Read this article at BackpackingLight.com</a>View All: <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/sf/Techniques/Techniques & Best Practices/index.html'>Techniques & Best Practices</a> &gt; <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/s/Techniques/index.html'>Techniques</a> 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MST (M) 24: Garnet Mountain Forest Service Lookout, Montana http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/garnetmountain.html <blockquote>Episode 2: we focused on fast food preparation and the elimination of a whole lotta gear by hiking into a U.S. Forest Service lookout cabin.</blockquote> by Ryan Jordan | 2009-10-20 In this installment of "24", we focused on fast food preparation and the elimination of a whole lotta gear by hiking into a U.S. Forest Service lookout cabin. About twenty miles southwest of Bozeman, Montana lies the summit of Garnet Mountain. On top sits a beautiful fire lookout - the most popular cabin rental in the Gallatin National Forest's inventory. The two-story cabin was built in the 1960s to replace a worn-down original built in the 1930s. Panoramic views of the Gallatin, Bridger, Tobacco Root, and Spanish Peak mountain ranges reward the 2,000- to 3,000-foot hill climb. On September 25, 2009, after the school bell rang, my friend Steve and our kids piled into the Jeep and drove to Rat Lake to start our hike and another 24-hour adventure. ARTICLE OUTLINE <ul compact> <li> Introduction</li> <li> Photo Essay</li> <li> Video</li> <li> Gear Strategy</li> <li> Rationalizing My Gear Choices</li> <li> Gear List <ul compact> <li> Trekking Clothes Worn</li> <li> Camping Gear and Extra Clothes</li> <li> Consumables</li> </ul> </ul> # WORDS: 870 # PHOTOS: 9 <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/thumb/garnetmountain-thumb.jpg' align='right'> <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/bullet-arrow-red-small.gif'><a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/garnetmountain.html'> Read this article at BackpackingLight.com</a>View All: <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/sf/Techniques/Techniques/index.html'>Techniques</a> &gt; <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/s/Techniques/index.html'>Techniques</a> 20 Oct 2009 00:05:00 MST