Gear Report

The Osprey Kestrel backpack has worked out well. I am not yet sold on the way the internal bladder works but the problems I have had may be a function of the way I pack. I think I just need to do some tuning. I have only used it twice for Wilderness Trekking School class.

Overall the Kestrel holds gear great and loads easily. The hip suspension is perfect. I think I need to do some shoulder strap adjustment to get it just so. But the hip belt is really comfortable.

The problem I have had with the internal bladder is that a full bladder causes the back panel to bulge out (into my back). What I think is happening however is that I pack my bivy inside parallel and directly against the bladder. When the pack is full the bivy pushes against the full length of the bladder and causes it to bulge against the back panel. I will try moving the bivy to the side and see if that helps next time I hike.

Time to whip up something to eat

I also picked up a GSI Halulite Minimalist cook set. GSI has cleverly designed several different cook sets for nearly every outdoor use. The Halulite Minimalist is specifically designed for a backpacker who just boils water for dehydrated meals and perhaps some coffer/soup/hot chocolate or similar.

The entire set cleverly nests with all the included components as well as a small gas cartridge and stove. I am using the Snow Peak Gigagpower stove. I have had this stove for years and it really works well. It folds up into a very tiny package and fits right inside the nested cook set. There are of course several other small foldup stoves that would work.

GSI Halulite Minimalist cook set (Image Courtesy GSI Outdoors)

 

Snow Peak Gigapower Stove (Image Courtesy Snow Peak)

Coming Up…A Preview of Some of the Images for a Future Book!

Castle Peak from Conundrum Peak. August 2010

More New Gear

Ok the Granite Gear pack did not work out for me. It’s a really nice and light pack. However, the Escape 40 had some issues for me that I hadn’t noticed until I used it last Saturday during Map and Compass training.

First off, the cinching straps are too small (they are really cords, not straps) and short to use for securing gear to the outside of the pack. The top pocket is too small. And for some reason the hip belt bruised the hell out of me. So I’m afraid the pack goes back. Next up is the Osprey Kestrel.

This pack is classic Osprey (my favorite brand)

Photo courtesy Osprey

The Kestrel uses the classic Osprey compression system. Great materials. And it is set up better for the way that I load and carry gear. More on this pack after I put it to use within the next few weeks.

Wilderness Trekking School Spring Session Has Started.

Its always a great kickoff to Spring and the climbing season to start Wilderness Trekking School. This last Saturday (April 2) was the instructor map and compass day. This day is for the instructors and assoc. and/or assist. instructors to get to know each other and to “freshen up” their map and compass skills.

The day went great and we hit all of our expected points. Meet the students tonight!

New Year, New Gear

I used to be a gear junkie. Anything for hiking that was shiny, or cool, or new. Whatever! I loved gear. I’m much better now. Mostly. What has happened really was that I used to buy gear—before I had kids—like CRAZY! I would spend money with little care. But that has all changed. As one builds a family one has less time, money, etc to spend building a gear collection.

Additionally, I have over the years come up with a predictable and reliable gear system that I was reluctant to change. Don’t fix what is not broke.

This year I finally fell victim to that old spending urge however. I purchased a new pack. For the past 5 or 6 years I have been using my very reliable Osprey Stratos 40. It is a very good pack and has and will continue to serve me well. It has made the summits of many Colorado 14ers on my back and I have developed a somewhat emotional attachment to it. Nothing sick or anything. I just have spent a lot of time in a lot of very cool places with my Osprey.

But technology marches on and my Stratos 40 was showing some age. Many of the newer packs have better suspensions and are composed of lighter materials. I was not really looking for a new pack…but as these things happen…I found one.

It is the Granite Gear (http://www.granitegearstore.com/Escape-AC-40-P212C7.aspx) Escape 40. There is also a larger and equally competent Escape 60. They are nearly identical other than their internal volume.

The Granite Gear Escape 40 (courtesy Granite Gear)

I have not used this pack on the trail yet but it fits like a dream. It is VERY light. The side pockets are pointed forward so a non-contortionist human can actually reach back to remove gloves or a hat or similar without first taking off the pack. It is well designed and I look forward to using it soon.

Have a look at one in your local gear store. They are really nice. I’ll let you know how I like mine after I finally get out with it.

Another Try at Sniktau

The “Official” climbing season is so close I can smell it in the air. It is often early Spring that I get the itch to get up on some peak somewhere. And this desire often falls to Mt. Sniktau to ameliorate. Sniktau is a great dependable peak and oddly, I never get tired of climbing it.

For this hike I was joined by a new partner, Chris Hanson. Chris and I had been working for a few weeks to get his gear up to snuff for a Winter climb. So on Tuesday, March 1, we both set off, albeit a little late towards Sniktau.

The weather was forecast to be great with moderate winds. Moderate winds on Sniktau can typically be around 30 mph steady. And indeed that was the case. We arrived at the trailhead around 10:45 am and it was already warm enough that we didn’t really have to put any other layers on besides base/middle with a hat and light gloves. Winds at Loveland Pass (11,990 feet) were light but picked up at altitude.

Chris and I Arrived at Loveland Pass Around

10:45 am. Looks Like its Been Snowing Up Here!

We started out by slogging up the 925 feet from Loveland Pass to the top of the ridge. This is a tough start. You step out of your car at 11,990 feet and grind steeply up to 12,915 feet. Arrrrgghhhhh…Its nasty. Particularly if you have a little of that Winter midriff spread. Not that I do.

At the top we stopped to throw on another layer as it was colder and significantly more windy. We snacked a bit and took in the beautiful Winter views of the surrounding mountains.

The 925 Foot Grind up from Loveland Pass

All the way up and across towards Sniktau the snow conditions were great. Nearly entirely wind scoured or hard packed. We post-holed just a couple of times and snow shoes were not needed, or taken for that matter. As usual due to the windy conditions on this ridge there were interesting snow sculpted features and sastrugi. There were a few places were previous hikers had pressed their boots into the fresh snow to have the wind later blow out the loose pack between the steps. This process leads to some very interesting (reversed) patterns.

A Hiker’s Frozen Steps Recorded in Snow Near Loveland Pass

Chris and I headed North towards Sniktau after we snacked and geared up. The winds were blowing steadily from the West and we had to put on our balaclavas but otherwise we were pretty comfortable.

By about 12:00 pm we made the unnamed 13er adjacent to Sniktau (Point 13,152). Chris had to be back in town by around 3pm for other commitments. I calculated that it would be about a 60 minute round trip to Sniktau then back to Point 13,152. I told Chris we would be cutting it pretty close.

We decided to leave Sniktau for another day (hopefully around Spring Break) when we had more time. We celebrated Chris’s first 13er (Point 13,152) and headed back to the pass.

While we did not make our goal of Mt. Sniktau, the day was a good way to shake out some gear issues, Winter dictated sedentary issues, and to at least get up into the mountains.

Parting Shot of Mt. Sniktau. We Will Be Back for a Visit

Its Valentines Day. Is Spring that far away?

Here we are on February 14th, Valentine’s Day. Spring is not that far away and I am really looking forward to this upcoming season. 2011 will be the first climbing season in years that will not have any specific peak-climbing goals other than to climb some, have fun, and take pictures.

After finishing my 40 x 50 in 2010, this year is the beginning of climbing for fun and photography. I’m looking forward to starting on new 13ers like Horseshoe Mountain. Sleeping overnight on the summit of a 14er, and just getting out there and having fun with friends and family. The call went out for WTS instructors a few weeks ago so there is outdoor activity in the air. WTS is always a great way to shake the cobwebs loose and “remember” all the stuff I forgot in the off season.

Don, my climbing partner, is expecting his second child in July. That sort of messes up this upcoming climbing season but he has assured me that he will at least get one new 14er in. Probably Antero. Maybe Tabeguache. I remember climbing Antero way back in 2002 and I look forward to a return. Tabeguache would have to be done by a different route cause I am NOT going to climb Shavano again.

Stay tuned…This will be a great year.