All blogs
Every full length (longer than 60 seconds) video and accompanying blog post
Split Finger Gloves/Mittens for Hiking, Backpacking, & Mountaineering
For over a decade, I've been using the same split finger gloves (or split finger mittens) as a compromise between the warmth of a mitten and the dexterity of a glove. They aren't right for every trip but I can use them in a surprising amount of situations. Here's a video on some of the pros and cons and how I choose when to use them.
Review of the Enlightened Equipment Accomplice 2-Person Quilt: Backpacking & Alpine Climbing
Famed high altitude mountaineer Ed Viesturs has used two-person quilts on the highest mountains in the world. Backpackers often use quilts, now, as a matter of course. So, my family has been using the two-person Enlightened Equipment Accomplice sleeping quilt for backpacking and for alpine climbing, both to add warmth (body heat of a second person) and cut weight (less per-person weight). This video offers a product review.
Winter Camping is a Mountaineering Skill. My Kids Wanted to Try a Deeply Cold 48 Hours Out.
Climbing big mountains in anything more than a day, may demand that you cold-weather camp as well as you climb. It's the key to your recovery at the end of each day. My twin eight-year-old wanted to try winter camping in truly cold weather. It got down to -6 F (-21C). Here's what I was thinking about and focused on teaching them during these 48 hours out.
How and Why to Make Your Own Topographic Route Map for Mountaineering, Backpacking, and Hiking
Hiking, Backpacking, and Mountaineering trips can cover a lot of ground, and the longer the trip the more likely that contingencies will arise that force us to adjust. In those circumstances, having gone through the process of making my own topographic route map helps me better know options and recognize landmarks once I am out in the field. Here's the why and how of making your own maps.
Mountaineering, Backpacking, and Camp Pillows: the Risk of Cheyne-Stokes Apnea Made Me Add This Item
I carry a camp pillow when mountaineering, backpacking, or alpine climbing at altitude. There are multiple reasons. One reason is that at high altitudes I can become susceptible to Cheyne-Stokes breathing, an apnea that impacts my ability to sleep. Find out why plenty of people get Cheyne-Stokes at altitude, and how a simple item like a camp pillow can alleviate this condition. Also discover how a camp pillow may contribute to a warmer and lighter sleep system, overall.
Winter Gear We Take When Mountaineering, Hiking, and Snowshoeing with the Kids
My twin seven-year-olds love mountaineering, climbing, hiking, and camping. But making sure we have all the right gear for winter trips comes with larger consequences for getting it wrong. Here is a load out video of what we take for a winter day-trip in snowy, cold conditions.
Hiking Gear I Take to Climb a Colorado 14er: Typical Summertime Loadout
Wanting to hike to the summit of a 14er? Here is a loadout of the equipment I take on a typical summer climb to above fourteen thousand feet.
Winter Camping Gear Hacks! Five Favorite Low Cost, Low Weight Items for Winter Backcountry Camping
Born from experience, here are some small, cheap, and exceptionally helpful items for winter camping