Short clips

Trailers to full length videos and stand-alone quick tips; everything we make that is under 60 seconds

Short Clips Jason Kolaczkowski Short Clips Jason Kolaczkowski

Preview to: Our Climbing, Backpacking, or Trekking Expedition Retrospective

No climbing, backpacking, or trekking expedition goes perfectly. We get some things in planning and executing the expedition just right, but we also don’t do enough of some things (like, maybe, communication) or too much of others (like, maybe, overtraining). So, this previews a facilitated retrospective on a completed expedition. What we learn from everyone's unique perspectives helps leverage strengths and avoid pitfalls when we head out on the next big trip.

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Short Clips Jason Kolaczkowski Short Clips Jason Kolaczkowski

Preview to Climbing, Backpacking, or Trekking Expedition Team Dynamics Starts with Prep

Trust is key to any team endeavor, and belief in our teammates is just as key to an expedition's success. It doesn't matter if we are climbing, backpacking, or trekking. Multi-day adventures in the outdoors can hinge on our ability to lean on one another. Our family's trek of the Tour de Mont Blanc proved to be one example. The full video describes how the training we put into fitness and shared systems, which we have to do anyway, can be multiplied in the value they bring to expedition teams.

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Short Clips Jason Kolaczkowski Short Clips Jason Kolaczkowski

Preview to: Getting Your Gear Where It Needs to Go! Logistics Planning for Expeditions

For any expedition, whether to climb, trek, or do anything else, we’ve got to get ourselves and our gear to the right places at the right time. What we need for the travel segments will be different than what we need during the adventure portions of the trip, and we need to make sure that - as silly as it sounds - the people and the gear meet up when needed. That’s logistics. And there is a lot that goes into logistics planning for an expedition. The full video offers a mental model to help get us started.

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Short Clips Jason Kolaczkowski Short Clips Jason Kolaczkowski

Preview to a Review of the Deuter Climber 22L Kids' Pack: 3 Years of Backpacking & Climbing

Our boys, now age 8, have been using the Deuter Climber 22 Liter Kid's backpack for over three years. It's been the pack they take on just about every hiking, backpacking, camping, and climbing adventure. So, with that much wear and trust put into the backpack, we thought it would be worth a review. The full video shares what we dislike, like, and love about this pack.

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Keeping Larger Particles Out of Your Hiking, Backpacking, and Climbing Snow Melt Water

Finding purified water is easy on winter and alpine climbs and hikes when you are boiling snow melt, but larger particles like pine nettles can still infest your water despite boiling. Your kitchen cabinets already hold an affordable solution.

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I've Used the Bōn Dry Hydration Pack Dryer for Years and It Keeps My Hydration Packs Fresh

My family gets outdoors a lot for climbing, backpacking, and hiking and we use hydration pack systems when the weather is right. The convenience of having water accessible helps us drink more. But hydration packs are hard to keep from molding. That's where the Bōn Dry hydration pack dryer comes in to play. I've never had to replace any of my families' hydration systems since I started using it.

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Short Clips, Quick Tips, Quick Tips (03) Jason Kolaczkowski Short Clips, Quick Tips, Quick Tips (03) Jason Kolaczkowski

Keeping Kids Hydrated when Backpacking, Hiking, and Climbing: Water Bladder Size Matters

Being outdoors with my kids for climbing, backpacking, and hiking is a blast, but getting them to do some of "the small things" on a consistent basis can be a challenge. Staying hydrated is one of those things. Having water always accessible with a water bladder system can help, but I need to make sure I have the right water bladder for their little bodies and little equipment.

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Short Clips, Quick Tips, Quick Tips (03) Jason Kolaczkowski Short Clips, Quick Tips, Quick Tips (03) Jason Kolaczkowski

Climbing. High Altitude Hikes. Winter Backpacking. Maybe Take That Metal Ring Off?

When we head outdoors for climbing, hiking, or backpacking, we always try to dress for conditions. But one part of our kit that maybe we haven't thought about is any rings we might usually have on. A metal ring can be a hazard when there are opportunities to either catch it on something or if the environment is cold. It's a lesson I've had to relate to many the adult climbing student.

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Short Clips, Quick Tips, Quick Tips (03) Jason Kolaczkowski Short Clips, Quick Tips, Quick Tips (03) Jason Kolaczkowski

Gloves, Jackets, and Watches: Keeping that Smart Device from Catching on Gear in the Alpine

Many climbers, mountaineers, hikers, and backpackers wear a watch. Often times, it doubles as their GPS. But once we add the necessary gloves and jackets for cold days in the alpine, that watch can be in our way. Here's how it keep my watch from getting caught in my clothing while also keeping it available as I need it.

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Short Clips, Quick Tips, Quick Tips (03) Jason Kolaczkowski Short Clips, Quick Tips, Quick Tips (03) Jason Kolaczkowski

How to Mount a GPS Device, Satellite Communicator, or Radio to Your Backpack Strap

On some routes, I know I am going to need to be able to access a radio or a GPS device or satellite communicator more frequently. Maybe winds or terrain will make it hard to talk with my climbing partner. Maybe it's a new area and I'm unfamiliar with the landscape. Maybe it's a big expedition, and I need to be able to stay in regular contact with a team that is spread out all over the mountain. If I need to keep the device available, I want it out of the way, high on my shoulder, when not in use; but I also need to be sure it's secure and still attached when I am using it. Here is how I rig a device to my backpack when facing these types of situations.

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Short Clips, Quick Tips, Quick Tips (02) Jason Kolaczkowski Short Clips, Quick Tips, Quick Tips (02) Jason Kolaczkowski

Climbing, Mountaineering, and Hiking Travel: Don't Split Systems When Packing for Flights

When we travel for hiking, climbing, and mountaineering, we have a little less than a 1% chance that a checked bag will get lost, damaged, or delayed. Compounded across multiple bags for multiple people, and you can quickly end up with a much higher likelihood of a baggage handling error. So, here is one tip to help you avoid having partial systems and incomplete gear should you run into one of those baggage problems.

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Short Clips, Quick Tips, Quick Tips (02) Jason Kolaczkowski Short Clips, Quick Tips, Quick Tips (02) Jason Kolaczkowski

Traveling with Climbing, Mountaineering, and Hiking Gear: Getting the Right Duffels

When we travel for hiking, climbing, and mountaineering, some of what we need to take with us are longer items that don't fit well in most luggage. Here are the typical airline dimensions you need to know and a recommendation on having at least one of these types of duffel bags.

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Short Clips Jason Kolaczkowski Short Clips Jason Kolaczkowski

Trailer to Loadout Days Ensure the Right Gear for Mountaineering, Backpacking, Camping Trip

Mountaineering, backpacking, and camping trips require a lot of gear. If you are traveling across states, provinces, or even countries, the stakes of having too much gear can be costly, and having too little gear can even be dangerous. The full video presents the single most important day of my travel/expedition planning process to help insure that I, and my team, don't make either of those mistakes.

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