There are two main reasons why it helps to neatly organize backcountry gear: 1) everything in its place and a place for everything makes it easier to find things and you “lose” things less often 2) unpacking completely and packing each time before an outing ensures full awareness of the gear on you, important discussionsContinue reading “How we organize and store our backcountry gear at home”
Tag Archives: backcountry
How we experienced two extreme temperatures in the same day in Death Valley and Telescope Peak
We recently visited Death Valley. We spent the first day climbing up and sleeping on the summit of Telescope Peak at 11,000 ft (3,300 m) in 40° F ( 4° C) 🥶 temperature; and then in the morning we hiked back down and drove to the lowest spot in the US (right behind me inContinue reading “How we experienced two extreme temperatures in the same day in Death Valley and Telescope Peak”
Camping at the base of Brokeoff Mountain
This was our campsite in Lassen Volcanic National Park. The “black” triangle in the top center is Brokeoff Mountain (also known as Mt Tehama). This was at 4am. We had just woken up to an “alpine start”, to try and summit the peak while the snow was still hard, before the sun came out andContinue reading “Camping at the base of Brokeoff Mountain”
Wayfinding in the backcountry when the GPS fails
When out in the backcountry, especially in the winter, you can’t really count on having any marked trails. We spent a good amount of time studying maps of the area, identifying the trailhead, waypoints and landmark features before we even left home. We also researched recent trip reports from others and talked to the rangersContinue reading “Wayfinding in the backcountry when the GPS fails”
Seattle is the sum of the city and its surroundings
Seattle is a growing city with a lot to offer with all its wilderness parks, great restaurants and bars and nightlife. However, just 25 miles in any direction, you experience things I always thought you would need a vacation to access. My wife and I have internalized the Seattle lifestyle and incorporated a lot ofContinue reading “Seattle is the sum of the city and its surroundings”