By: Patrick Gensel Just like you shouldn't TP your neighbors house without concealing your identity, you shouldn't go camping without an adequate sleeping bag. The problem is that if, like many, you are new to the whole outdoor scene, combing through the mountains of options available might be harrowing at best. Options such as down,
If you're an outdoorsman, and like myself have a thing for analytics, then having a reliable watch is important. From keeping time, to tracking elevation and barometric pressure, the wrist watches of today are more computer than time piece. Probably one of the better known items in this category, the Suunto Core offers all of these features and more.
Some will argue Rainier isn’t a big mountain. There are 53 peaks in Colorado over 14,000’ and Rainierstands at 14,411’. True it isn’t Everest big, but it is the most glaciated peak in the contiguous UnitedStates. Serious mountaineers come to Rainier for training. Depending on the route, you’ll gain upwardsof 10,000 vertical feet and spend a good bit of time at altitude. To me, that makes Rainier a big mountain.
By Patrick Gensel When camping during the colder months of the year, keeping warm is a big deal. A cold, uncomfortable night can easily send even the most seasoned outdoorsy folks packing for the car. That is why it is important to have a adequately warm sleeping bag for your chosen area, season and
By Patrick Gensel Jeff Lowe's Metanoia The year was 1991 and climber Jeff Lowe was looking for a way to escape the complications of his life. A painful divorce stemming from a romance with a french climber he met had dissolved his life into chaos. Jeff was looking for something that would challenge
By: Patrick Gensel Photos By: Bill Urbanski The piercing whine of my travel alarm sprung me from a deep sleep at 5 AM on Saturday morning, but I did not put forth my usual struggle to wake up. I was excited for our intended winter ascent of Mount Marcy, the highest mountain in New York State. The thermometer
Now that I have a few uses under my feet I can safely say I am ready to talk about the Grivel G14 New-Matic Crampons. When I first started researching a new pair of crampons, there were a couple things I knew I needed them to do: Multi-Purpose: General Mountaineering and Ice Climbing Replaceable frontpoints
Finding the right tent is like finding the right house or apartment, it's important because your going to be spending a lot of time in it. If you have spent anytime backpacking or backcountry camping, you know that having space is important, but weight is equally as important if not more. For the
Some people like gold, some silver, and some of us like brightly anodized or beat up looking climbing stoppers. One person is offering just that. New and used climbing stoppers fashioned into appealing jewelry. Friend and fellow climber Aleya Littleton has recently discovered a knack for constructing necklaces from any piece of climbing
In May of 2010 Bill Urbanski, A native to Northeastern Pennsylvania, set out to climb Alaska's Denali. Troubled by storms, avalanches and the like the Team did not make the summit, but the adventure provided Bill with a memory that will last a lifetime, and a story to tell. Stuck at 17,200 for several days,