Clik here to view.
The Ultimate Alaska Backpacking Gear List - Part Two: Equipment
TABLE OF CONTENTSThis is the second post in a four-part series that aims to curate the current best available tools for lightweight human-powered landscape crossings in Alaska. Navigate to the other...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Patagonia Grade VII Review: The Best Down Parka Ever
Overview I have had the great privilege of testing all of the best down parkas in the world—over 20 models worth more than $12,000. Of these, the Patagonia Grade VII is by far the best. It is the...
View ArticleGrizzly
A poem by my uncle about backpacking in Denali:ThinAnd, Flapping all day,The north sideof this thin rip-stop tentGoes quiet,At midnightAnd reddish,From sunset...Think of them,As surrounding den’s’a...
View ArticleClik here to view.
2019 Alaska Mountain Wilderness Ski Classic: Part 1 - Preparation
IntroI have been interested in doing the winter ski classic “race” for several years. This is an unsupported point to point landscape crossing event with a dozen or so Alaskan wilderness lovers. The...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Death, Dreams, and the Baranof Traverse
This morning, Malcolm called me to share that our friend Danny died yesterday. The rock beneath his foot broke and he fell down the mountainside. We had lived together for a time. He woke up at 6 AM...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Dirigo 2 Review
p.p1 {margin: 12.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 14.4px; font: 12.0px Helvetica} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px} p.p3 {margin: 30.0px 0.0px 30.0px...
View ArticleUpdated Hyperlite Mountain Gear Dirigo 2 Review + reflections on how to buy...
I updated my review of the Hyperlite Moutain Gear Dirigo 2 tent after using it since March. You can see the revised review, with photos from the Arctic Refuge and local outings, here.Did my opinion...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Arctic Village to Kaktovik
p.p1 {margin: 12.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 14.4px; font: 12.0px Helvetica} li.li1 {margin: 12.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 14.4px; font: 12.0px Helvetica} li.li2 {margin: 18.0px 0.0px...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Feathered Friends Tanager Sleeping Bag Review
p.p1 {margin: 12.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 14.4px; font: 12.0px Helvetica} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px} p.p3 {margin: 30.0px 0.0px 30.0px...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Throttling Back and Turning Right
I’m simultaneously feeling sad and relieved. I’m overflowing with optimism and excitement. I’m throttling back and turning right. Throttling Back The throttling back started in 2017. That year, I was...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Still on the Loose
This is likely the best piece of writing to be published on Hyperlite's blog in its near decade-long existence. It went up a year ago. It's worth revisiting again.Two quotations: 1. "no outdoor...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Patagonia Thermal Airshed Review - Not Recommended
IntroductionMost outdoor media only publish net positive reviews and minimize constructive comments. These behaviors stifle product innovation. The purpose of this constructive review of the Thermal...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Joys of Two-Person Packrafting and the Best Two-Person Packrafts Review
Eric, Julie, and Finn in the Alpacka Raft Forager. Denali National Park, Alaska. Credit Tony PerelliTwo-person packrafts are significantly underutilized today. Why? Except for a brief stint with the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
With Mom in the Brooks Range
I looked at Gaia for about 30 minutes, drew in some route options, and we started packing up at noon the day before our departure. My mother and I went backpacking in the Brooks Range in June. She...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Meet Ruby, My Electric Adventure Rig!
Some technologies can significantly improve our quality of life. Electric vehicles are one.Meet Ruby, my electric adventure rig! She was made in Michigan in May 2017, cruised 36,000 miles in...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Best Fleece Jackets Review: Is Fleece Worth Buying?
Fleece jackets are NOT the highest performance choice for active use outdoors. Most are not worth buying. Of all types of fleece jackets available today, a thin lightweight hooded fleece shirt offers...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Jökulhlaup: Nabesna to McCarthy Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
I find the 300 miles southeast of McCarthy to be the most intimidating and awe-inspiring land in North America. Rugged, raw, wild. Bone cold rivers. The largest non-polar icefield. The largest mountain...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Packraft Handbook Review and Q&A with Luc Mehl: Mandatory Reading
Invest in yourself because your skills and knowledge matter far more than your tools. This truth is often lost in today’s world, where advertising and consumer culture encourage us to focus on material...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A place worth experiencing and worth fighting for
This world is a beautiful place worth experiencing and worth fighting for. I believe in seeking its awe and splendor. Feeling tired. Getting our feet wet. Heart rate up. Sand in the hair. Dirt and fish...
View ArticleClik here to view.
How to Spend Money to Maximize Happiness: A Decision-Making Framework
This is a decision-support tool for spending money in ways that lead to the greatest long-term happiness. I wrote this as a guide for myself and anyone else who is interested. I made the graphics and...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Patagonia Fitz Roy 20 Degree Sleeping Bag Review
My favorite all-purpose sleeping bag when comfort is a priority. This photo illustrates the exceptional comfort of the Fitz Roy 20 sleeping bag. Also, the bag performs well in remote, wild places. I...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear UltaMid High Wind Performance: when will you dig a...
“My heart is now racing. I associate snow caves with survival situations, and now I’m realizing we’re in just that.” - Trish, after we decided to abandon the UltaMid and dig a snow caveCampsite...
View ArticleClik here to view.
SlingFin WindSaber Review: The Best 4-Season Tent in the World
Superb strength, comfort, and durability for only five poundsOver the last decade and a half, I’ve tested approximately 100 tents and ultralight shelters, and spent months climbing and traveling...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Tiny Homes in Wild Places!
Unknown at the time, some decisions dramatically shape the course of our lives.In 2017, two of us got a Coop-Dash Inspire Award from the American Alpine Club to do a first ascent of an unclimbed wall...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Patagonia Alpine Suit Review: Extraordinary
Climbing in the Patagonia Alpine Suit (unnamed playground, Alaska)For those who take big risks and push the limitsThe Patagonia Alpine Suit is a waterproof one-piece for bold, risky, alpinism...
View Article