First up is the wonderful book Hiking the Wonderland Trail by Tami Asars. I used the paperback version as I was researching the trail and planning our trip. Derek had the Kindle version, so he was able to reference a downloaded copy on his iPhone. Tami has hiked the Wonderland Trail many times, and this was the best book I found covering the Wonderland Trail.

Highly recommended.

I always bring a paper map. National Geographic’s Wonderland Trail Map was an invaluable reference that I carried with me on the trail. Even though the Wonderland Trail is pretty well marked, it’s useful to have a reference to quickly identify geographic features, water sources, and side trails.

This map is printed on durable, water-resistant paper and is organized in pages, rather than a fold-out map. Each two-page spread includes an elevation profile for the section shown.

Guthook Guides app with the Wonderland Trail data. The app is free and available for iOS and Android, but you’ll pay for the trail data. It is super-cool because the data is downloaded to your phone, and uses your phone’s GPS data to locate you. You’ll know in a snap exactly how far it is to your camp, or the nearest water source.

I’ve heard of Guthook Guides since they first came out for the PCT years ago, but this trip was the first time I actually used it. I’m hooked.

For emergencies (we thankfully had none), weather reports, and communication with our families back home, the Garmin InReach Mini is highly recommended.

I have an older model that I’ve used for several years, but when it comes time to replace it, I’ll get the Mini. You use your smartphone as the primary interface for typing messages (which is preferred anyway) and you can send and receive text messages with your family.  If there were an emergency, you can also alert Search and Rescue (SAR).

Keeping my iPhone and Apple Watch charged? I used an Anker PowerCore Charger. Yes, I wore my Apple Watch and used my iPhone extensively on this trip. I tracked our route, took photos and more.

I tried using a solar panel on the John Muir Trail, but over time, I’ve found that a portable battery like this is much more effective and reliable.

Some of these links are affiliate links, meaning we earn a small commission if you click the link and purchase. The pricing isn’t affected, but you’ll help support our trail guides at SoCalHiker.net, and for that we are thankful. – Jeff 

Last month I took a 9-day road trip in Arizona. I was car camping, meeting with friends and spreading the word about the Arizona Winter Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge. And of course, hiking the six mountains in the challenge along the way. I was approached by Glen & Loch to test out their new High Point Duffel and see if it truly would be the perfect gear hauling duffel for car camping.

To kick off the trip, I flew into Phoenix. I was hauling a ton of gear, including hiking gear for temperature extremes. The duffle had to be checked as baggage (it’s too big to carry on) but I was prepared for that. The High Point has a wealth of carrying options, from the standard topside handle to grab handles on the sides, a detachable shoulder strap to backpack straps complete with sternum strap and waist belt. It was pretty simple to load, grab, and go.

Initial Impressions

This duffel is cavernous. I have a few other duffel bags, and the design of this is truly unique. Instead of a fixed volume duffel, this opens up like a lunch bag, You can fill it with all your gear, then use the four straps to tighten everything up.

The High Point duffel is also super rugged. Everything from the straps to the thick material and the zippers all inspire confidence. You could strap this on your roof rack and it will handle the weather easily.

Once you’ve packed everything, you zip the top, strap the ends down, and finally buckle and tighten the compression straps to the size of your load.

I found the carrying handle and grab handles most convenient for moving it around between my campsite and the camper van, and the shoulder strap for longer hauls at the airport. But for a really long haul, I’d definitely break out the backpack straps, concealed in zippered compartments in the bottom of the duffel. The backpacking straps let you distribute the load between your shoulders and hips, and make carrying a fully loaded duffel much easier.

Final Thoughts

This is the most durable duffel in my gear closet. It’s rugged and extremely well-built with an innovative design that lets you expand or contract the duffel for everything from a quick weekend trip to a full 9-day (or longer) road trip. The tradeoff for the rugged durability? It’s heavier than most. But for car camping and base camp trips, weight is not the primary issue — construction is.

The pricing is extremely competitive, and if you’re in the market for a duffel for your next adventure, I recommend the High Point duffel.

You can learn more on their website: Glen & Loch.

Disclosure: While Glen & Loch provided the duffel for us to test, we only share our honest opinion on the gear and received no compensation for the review 

In October 2018, we thru-hiked the TCT again. The trail had been realigned in 2017, and our trail guide needed an update. This time around, we opted to try out the gear haul service offered by Catalina Backcountry.

Benefits of Gear Haul Service

In Europe, hiking hut-to-hut or village-to-village is commonplace, letting you carry a daypack with water, some food for the hike, and the essentials. Using Catalina Backcountry’s gear haul service on Catalina is very similar.

We carried daypacks with water, food for our hike that day, a rain shell and the ten essentials. The remainder of our gear was transported from campsite to campsite. 

What’s so awesome about gear haul service? You don’t have to travel light. We brought our huge, double-wide Big Agnes Air Core mattress and the super-bulky (but awesome for car camping) Big Agnes Dream Island sleeping bag, and on top of that a cooler filled with ice, cold beverages, and fresh food rather than dehydrated. 

And of course, hiking was pleasant. We arrived at camp early in the afternoon with energy and time to explore. 

How it worked

We started from Avalon, where we were attending a friend’s wedding the weekend before. Catalina Backcountry knew which hotel we had stayed at, and which campsites we had reserved. We left our gear in the lobby and hit the trail with our much lighter daypacks. 

When we arrived at Blackjack campground that afternoon, our gear was waiting for us at our reserved campsite, plus a couple of camp chairs were setup by the fire ring. 

Each morning, we would pack lunch and water in our day packs and head out. By the time we arrived at our next campsite, our gear would be there waiting for us. They even topped off the ice in our cooler when it needed more. 

Other Services

Catalina Backcountry offers other services in addition to gear hauls. They provide complete camp setup services, providing the gear and setting it up for you. They offer camp meals, both catered and cooked on site. And they offer guided hikes and custom island excursions. 

Good to know

On our second day, we stopped at the airport for an early lunch on our way to Little Harbor, and ran into the co-owner Larina. She was born and raised in Avalon, and her grandmother first moved to Catalina back in the early 1900s. I appreciated supporting a local business, especially one run by a family with such deep roots on the island. 

The Bottom Line
Gear haul service has a cost, but the charges are based on the trip, not the number of people. It really pays off if you have four or more people to split the cost. For a trip like the Trans-Catalina Trail, gear haul service is great option, letting you do a glamping-style trip that’s a lot of fun. 

Backcountry Catalina did a great job. Our gear was right where expected to be, and they even offered to pick-up additional supplies for us if we needed anything. We would definitely use them again, especially for a group trip. 

For more information, visit their website or call:

Catalina Backcountry
(310) 913-9036

Bringing a cooler in your car with cold drinks is simple, but I’m surprised more people don’t do it. It’s one of my pro-tips for long day hikes. 

We usually have a cooler on our road trips and car camping as well, but on our recent five-day thru-hike of the Trans-Catalina Trail, we were able to test out the roto-molded Patriot 20-quart cooler. 

Initial Impressions

The Patriot cooler is a beast. It’s super-rugged. It’s built to take a beating. The heavy duty rubber latches keep the lid closed tight and fox-proof — an important consideration on Catalina Island. It’s also no lightweight. Fully-loaded with ice and food for our trek, it was heavy. But I didn’t have to worry about it handling the load. 

It keeps things cold. They claim it can hold ice for up to five days, though your results will vary depending on external temperature. In our experience on Catalina Island, we had a small 7-lb bag of ice and the majority of the space was filled with food and beverage for our trek. 

We did top off the ice on our third day, but I fully expected that given the fact that it was sitting in the sun most of the day. 

The downsides are few, but not insignificant. The Patriot cooler is burly, but also heavier than your typical drug-store cooler. And the beefier insulation means less interior than something like an Igloo of similar outside dimensions. Fully loaded with food, beverage and ice, it gets heavy. There are no wheels, so carrying the cooler from the car to the ferry in San Pedro meant switching arms a couple of times. 

The bottom line? The Patriot cooler is now our go-to cooler for car camping, road trips and long day hikes (keeping it in the car, of course). It is nearly indistinguishable from the much more expensive brand in feature and function. And 20% of the net profits are donated to the Homes For Our Troops non-profit organization. 

Patriot also makes a larger 45 quart version with the same sturdy design. 

Patriot 20QT Cooler
List price: $149.99
patriotcoolers.com 

Disclosure: Patriot reimbursed the cost of our purchase of the cooler for this review. They did not influence the editorial content. The opinions on the cooler are mine, and I’m not going to pull any punches. 

The first day of summer is just a week away, and the good folks over at Cairn are on top of it. The summer Obsidian Collection arrived this week, with the theme “Just Add Water.” This collection of products looks great.

Here’s my unboxing and initial thoughts.

What’s in this box?

Here’s what was inside my 2018 Summer Cairn Obsidian Box and my initial impressions:

• Mountainsmith Cooloir 12 – List price: $119.95
  I dig this. It’s well-built with nice details like the built-in bottle opener and gear loops so you can tie it down. I might take this on the Muir Taco trip in August, and I’ll definitely use this car camping on our two scouting trips in Washington.
• Toad & Co Debug UPF Lightness Shirt – $95
  Built-in protection from bugs never looked so good. Probably not something I’ll hike in, but great for sitting around those summer bonfires.
• PackTowl “Luxe” Beach Towel – List price: $44.95
  This is super absorbent, fast-drying, and fairly light and compact for a full-size beach towel. Great addition for our car camping trips to Washington this summer.
• All Good Sport Sunscreen and Coconut Body Lotion – List price: $15.99 ea.
  All natural and eco-friendly lotions and sunscreen. I like that the sunscreen is water resistant for 80 minutes, although I’ve yet to test that.
• Astral Filipe Water Sandals – List price: $75
  These are actually pretty cool. They are flip flops that convert to sandals with a heel strap so they make great water shoes. I’m definitely bringing these along as my camp and water-crossing shoes on my section hike on the John Muir Trail and the Trans-Catalina Trail this summer.

The total retail value of this quarter’s box: $366.88. Not bad for a $249 subscription.

Get your Cairn Obsidian Collection here.

We first looked at Cairn three years ago when they launched their monthly subscription box. Last year, they created the Obsidian Premium Collection – a quarterly subscription box with over $300 worth of gear.

One of the unique features of the premium edition is that it really is tailored to the subscriber. Boxes can include clothing items and gear that is specific to your interests, so you’ll be asked for details on your outdoor interests and size information.

We got the 2018 Spring Collection, and gave it a look. Here’s the unboxing.

What’s in this box?

• Gregory Optic 48 Backpack – a 48 liter lightweight pack that weighs in just over 1 pound.
• Craft Mind SS Wicking Tee
• Smartwool PhD Outdoor Socks
• Gobi Gear SegSac Compress – a water-resistant compression sack with four internal compartments.
• Adventure Medical Kit – lightweight and watertight first aid kit.
• Heather’s Choice Packaroons – These 2-ounce trail snacks from Alaska are awesome!

I’ll be using everything in this box, starting with tomorrow’s 15 mile day hike. And yeah, it still feels a bit like Christmas.

Get your Cairn Obsidian Collection here.

The idea of a lightweight, clean-burning wood stove that’s about the size of a 1-liter water bottle is promising. Not having to worry about fuel canisters (or carry them) is pretty cool, too. Quickly boiling water with nothing more than a handful of twigs is awesome. Recharging your iPhone using firepower? That’s mighty magical. These are the promises of the BioLite CampStove.

We took the BioLite CampStove, KettlePot and portable grill out for field testing at the Middle Fork of Lytle Creek and an undisclosed location in Big Sur. Would the BioLite make it into our gear kit? Here’s what we found.

The Lineup

We took the BioLite CampStove and KettlePot up the Middle Fork of Lytle Creek for some stove testing with our friend Hikin Jim.   Later, we took the stove, kettle and portable grill on a car camping excursion in Big Sur.

The first thing you’ll notice is that there’s a lot of stuff. BioLite likes to show how the stove is roughly the size of a 1-liter Nalgene bottle, but the KettlePot is definitely larger. Fortunately, the stove fits within the KettlePot, so you might be able to fit it in a side pocket of your backpack.

The portable grill is fairly light, but bulky. If I were carrying this, it would probably be strapped to the top of the pack. More thoughts on that to follow.

How it works

The BioLite CampStove has two parts: a double wall cylinder where you put your fuel (typically a handful of dry twigs), and a battery pack/fan assembly. The battery must be charged before you use it, so be sure to take it out and charge it at home before you head out.

The battery’s primary purpose is to drive the fan, which is what allows the BioLite to burn so hot and clean. It really is remarkable how well it works. You can use a bit of paper with the twigs to get things started. The fan feeds the fire with a steady flow of air. As the fire heats up, this energy is stored in the battery. There’s even a USB port for you to charge your phone off of it.

Initial Observations

Once the fire gets going, it really does burn hot and clean. There is very little smoke, and when the fire is finished, very little ash remains. The BioLite earns high marks for efficiency in that regard.

I was able to boil two cups of water–a typical quantity for dehydrated backpacking meals–in the KettlePot in less than three minutes.

On the downside, the stove is less than ideal for cooking food in a pot. I typically don’t do this, mainly because I dread the cleanup, but it’s worth noting. Because you’re working with fire, the only way to regulate the heat is to adjust the intensity of the fire or increase the distance between the fire and the pot.

The top of the stove has a curved “receptacle” for the KettlePot. It is possible to balance a different kind of pot on the stove, but it would be precarious at best. Basically, if you get the CampStove, you’ll likely want to get the KettlePot. And you’ll want to stick to boiling water.

Field-testing the Portable Grill

The portable grill accessory has folding feet and rests over the mouth of the BioLite CampStove. A hinged cap provides access to feed the stove with twigs as necessary. Closing the cap allows the heat from the stove to dissipate under the grill.

As you grill, you’re cooking over indirect heat rather than directly over the flame, which is exactly what you want.

As you can see, we grill a couple of filets using the stove with the grill. I’m familiar with grilling on a gas grill at home, and the cook time was roughly double on the BioLite, mainly because it’s an open grill. Other than the extended cook time, it worked well and allowed us time to enjoy the sunset while we grilled.

BioLite suggests that the grill can accommodate four burgers or six hot dogs, which sounds about right and would be a perfect application.

Notes on Charging

I did test the charging capabilities of the BioLite. It was able to add a charge to my iPhone, but frankly, I wouldn’t rely on this as my sole source of power. For a boost of emergency juice, it will suffice. I’ll continue to carry an external battery for reliable, faster charging.

Bottom Line

I’ve heard of a few people say they use the BioLite when backpacking, but it is not what I’d consider part of an ultralight setup.  When I’m backpacking, I’m still carrying a canister stove.

For car camping or luxe backpacking, the BioLite CampStove is a great addition. As long as you can find a handful or two of twigs, there are no worries about fuel. And it packs really small compared they typical car camping stove.

The grill is a fun accessory, but I wouldn’t typically bring it backpacking. It’s perfect for car camping with a small group (4 people or fewer).

Note that in California, you need a (free) campfire permit for both campfires and stoves. Get yours here.

Get the BioLite

You can find a bundle with the BioLite CampStove, KettlePot, Portable Grill and a LED light (I didn’t test this) here on Amazon* At the time of writing, it listed for about $120, making it a great value, especially considering fuel costs are zero.

And if you’ve used a BioLite backpacking, please leave a comment and tell me why you think I should reconsider.

Learn more about BioLite on their website, BioLiteEnergy.com.

*This is an affiliate link, meaning we make a small commission on sales through the link, at no additional cost to you. Proceeds go right back into improving SoCalHiker. 

Thanks to BioLite for providing the stove and accessories for testing.

The following interactive map will let you know if an Adventure Pass is required for the trailhead you want to use. Click a cluster to zoom in on that area. Click on a pin to get a link with driving directions to that trailhead.

Need to buy an Adventure Pass? The Adventure Pass can be purchased as a day pass for $5 or an annual pass for $30. Here’s an interactive map of all the locations that sell Adventure Passes.

If you have a you already have an America the Beautiful annual pass for the National Parks, that will work in lieu of an Adventure Pass — just make sure you pick up a free Interagency Passport hang tag from a forest service office.

Data for this map comes directly from the Forest Service. Let us know if you run across any errors!

Does the trailhead you are headed to require an Adventure Pass? We have an interactive map that shows them all, with a list below it. You can even grab driving directions.

If you need to buy an Adventure Pass, the Forest Service has a list of all locations that carry them. But if you are like me, and prefer a map over a list, you’ll love this.

Click a cluster to zoom in on that area, and click a pin to see the name, address and phone number of the location.

Interactive map courtesy of Brett Kobold. Brett is a SoCal hiker and data jockey who whipped this up when he was planning a camping trip. Read more about the creation here. 

Snowshoeing is a great way to enjoy trails in the winter snow, and it’s actually really easy. You won’t need a class to learn how to snowshoe, but there are a few basic tips that will make your first snowshoeing steps easier and more enjoyable.

What do you need to get started snowshoeing?

First, you’ll need comfortable winter clothes. The same kind of gear that you would use for cold-weather hiking, with layers will work. You’ll also need comfortable hiking boots (ideally waterproof) and of course, the Ten Essentials. You’ll want some decent trekking poles, and this is your chance to finally put on those snow baskets that they came with. A nice extra is a pair of waterproof gaiters to keep the snow out of your boots.

A final gear check

For snowshoes, I recommend renting them initially. This will save money and give you a chance to try the sport before you outfit the entire family. In Southern California you can rent snowshoes at many outdoor retailers including A16 and some REI stores. Areas that cater to winter sports also rent snowshoes, usually for around $20 for the day. It’s a good idea to practice strapping the snowshoes on before you leave the rental store so there’s no confusion when you get to the snow. Speaking of which…

Next, you’ll need snow. Generally, snowshoes come in handy when there is more than 12-15 inches of snow. Check snow conditions before you go. Some places like Long Valley in San Jacinto State Park have webcams that let you check the snow conditions, but call ahead and speak with the local ranger for the latest conditions. Check the weather forecast, too. Snowshoeing in a snowstorm is a lot less fun and can be dangerous.

How to “Walk” in Snowshoes

When people ask, I usually say that snowshoeing is just like walking, but with a slightly wider stance. The wider stance will help you avoid stepping on your snowshoes, getting tangled up and doing a face-plant in the snow. But if you do fall (especially in deep snow) the best way to get back up is to take your pack off and at least one of the snowshoes.

As you snowshoe, take your time and use your trekking poles to counterbalance each step. The tricky part is turning. There is no pivoting in snowshoes, so when someone behind you calls you to look back, you’ll need to stop and take some careful, short steps to turn around. Turns require more caution to avoid tangling your snowshoes.

When going uphill and downhill the crampons on your snowshoes become essential. Step purposefully, giving the points a chance to dig in. If the conditions are icy, snowshoes are not the right gear for the job. In icy conditions you’ll need either micro-spikes (for flat or gently sloping terrain) or crampons, ice axe, helmet and winter mountaineering training for steep terrain.

That’s about it! Snowshoeing really is that easy. 

Where to Snowshoe

Hiking in Southern California — especially in the San Gabriel or San Bernardino Mountains — typically requires driving to the trailhead. Sometimes the trailhead is a nice, paved parking lot at the end of a well-maintained road. Other times, it’s at the end of a bumpy dirt road that seems to go on for miles. Regardless of the trail, I always end up hauling a lot of gear: daypacks, backpacks, trekking poles, boots, my post-hike survival kit, and (if I plan it right) a cooler with cold drinks for after the hike.

My current Adventure-Mobile has served me well for over seven years, but it’s showing it’s age. When I was invited to check out the redesigned 2016 Hyundai Tucson, I jumped at the chance.

Friends of mine own a 2015 Tucson and love it. They haul around their two young kids and all the requisite paraphernalia that goes with that (child car seats, stroller, toys, etc.). I hadn’t driven in it or really gotten much more than glimpses from the outside. “Nice looking car…” summed up my knowledge of the Tucson. But could it fit the bill as the next SoCal Hiker Adventure-Mobile? I flew to Minneapolis to find out.

Initial Impressions

• Styling: The 2016 Tucson is a good-looking cross-over utility vehicle (CUV). It’s got sharp styling, with and aggressive stance that makes it look like it’s ready to pounce on the road. Check! 
• Fit and Finish: The cars we drove were production vehicles and looked very well put together. The new body is more than twice as stiff as the old model, thanks to clever engineering and high-strength steel. It felt really solid. Check!
• Interior: The interior — especially on the Limited package — put my current AdventureMobile to shame. It looks great, with some really nice features for comfort and convenience. I really liked the big, crisp touchscreen for media and navigation. And the back seat was comfortable and roomy even for my large frame. Check! 
• Storage: This one is important for me, as I’m always hauling a bunch of gear around. Incredibly, the new Tucson has more storage than the larger BMW x5. It’s big enough to hide a body — should you need to move one. Check!
• Fuel Economy: This is another area where the Tucson shines. The new 1.6 liter turbocharged engine gets better fuel economy and more horsepower than the old model. Check and Check! 
• Technology: I only saw a demo of this, but being able to remotely start the car, and adjust the interior temperature from my Apple Watch had the geek in me drooling. Check!

So far, the 2016 Tucson looked pretty good as a potential SoCalHiker AdventureMobile. Of course, the real audition would require taking the Tucson out on the road. I teamed up with Aaron Turpen, and we headed for the hills, rivers and lakes of Wisconsin.

Hyundai Tucson Driving Impressions

We logged over 100 miles  through twisty country roads, accelerating, braking, and even splashing our way around scenic Wisconsin. We drove two models, starting with the top shelf 2016 Tucson Limited AWD in Mojave Sand. The car feels and handles great. It’s quiet, solid and responsive.

The amazing panoramic sunroof works even with a roof rack attached to the rails.

There are three selectable driving modes: standard, eco and sport. Eco would be great for those long road trips, but my favorite mode? Sport mode FTW! In fact, I think they should rename it “Fun Mode” — because it was a blast! As you can see in this video…

Born to be wild. Because, puddles. Having a blast in the #NewTucson

A video posted by Jeff Hester (@thesocalhiker) on Jul 17, 2015 at 2:25pm PDT

The Final Word

The 2016 Hyundai Tucson is a great CUV.  And with AWD in the Limited, it would be perfectly nimble on everything from a muddy dirt road coming back from the trailhead, or snow on our way to the Mammoth.

The Tucson passed the audition. It is on the call-back list for the next SoCalHiker Adventure-Mobile.

TWO UPDATES

First update: As it so happened, my Xterra was totaled back in August, and I was suddenly in the market for a new car. In September I bought a ’16 Tucson Limited. Since then, I’ve put over 1,600 miles on it, including multiple trips to remote Sierra Mountain trailheads hauling my backpacking gear, and I love it! 

Second update: It appears Hyundai liked my adventure-mobile idea.

More to Explore

• Check out Aaron’s perspective as an automotive journalist
• Get the details on the 2016 Tucson from Hyundai

Thanks to Hyundai for the opportunity to get a hands-on look at the new Tucson, and for flying SoCalHiker out to Minneapolis, putting us up and feeding us well. Now I need to go hike off those cheese curds… 

Is your scenery incredibly beautiful – and your food incredibly lacking? Lake Cecile, Sierra Nevada Mountains, California

There are alternatives, and you need look no farther than your local grocery store.  Today, I’m going to cover what I call Ramen Plus.

BUT WAIT!  I know what you’re thinking:  “Ramen?”  “Oh, great, Hikin’ Jim, what a super tip that is.” [insert sarcastic eye roll here]  “I’ve eaten Top Ramen a gazillion times, and it’s no prize catch.” Too true!  But who said anything about Top Ramen?  Get yourself some real ramen.

My wife is from Japan, and when she saw me eating Top Ramen, her first question was “why on earth are you eating that?”  This was my first subtle clue that maybe there was more to ramen than just Top Ramen.  She turned me on to Sapporo Ichiban Ramen.

Sapporo Ichiban Ramen

Now, Sapporo Ichiban is still just noodles.  I’m a big guy (6′ 0″, 220 lbs), and noodles alone just aren’t enough.  So what can we do to “beef up” just plain noodles and make it into a hungry hiker satisfying meal?  Well, there may be a lot of ways, but let me suggest a dead simple one:  Ramen Plus.  Here’s what you need:

The basic ingredients of Ramen Plus: Sapporo Ichiban Ramen + Just Veggies + Some kind of protein.
My favorite protein ingredient is Trader Joes Teriyaki Turkey Jerky.

Ramen Plus Recipe

1. A package of Sapporo Ichiban Ramen noodles.
2. A Ziploc baggie with some Just Veggies in it.    I usually add about 1/4 to 1/2 cup per package of ramen.  Note:  I typically buy Just Veggies in the 8 oz size on Amazon simply because it’s cheaper.  I’ve also seen it at REI and in grocery stores in the 4 oz size which tends to be a bit more expensive.  One 8 oz bag of Just veggies corresponds to a dozen or more packets of ramen.
3. Some kind of protein (salami, pepperoni, jerky, sausage, dried beef, bacon bits, etc.)

Can you put in other things?  Sure!  Whatever you like.  I’m simply proposing one easy method of making a quick, tasty meal.  You might also add things like various spices, chives or green onions, dried sea weed, etc.  Pretty much any dried (or fresh) vegetable makes a great addition.  On shorter trips, sometimes I’ll bring a raw egg to drop in, a fairly traditional addition to ramen.

Add half a cup of Just Veggies

Easy?  Just how easy?  Well, easy enough that you can make it pretty much with any type of stove:  Alcohol, canister gas, white gas, etc.  All you do is bring the water to a boil, add the noodles, add the veggies and protein, stir it all up, let it sit for 6 to 8 minutes, and then serve.  Dead simple.  For best taste, simmer the Ramen Plus instead of just letting it sit.

Ramen Plus: A meal so simple even a child can do it.

I figure about 2 packets of ramen serves 3 people, but of course that’s going to depend a lot on the appetites of the people.  If it’s just me and my daughter, I figure one packet of ramen for the two of us.

So, that’s really all there is to it:  Sapporo Ichiban Ramen + Just Veggies + Protein, add boiling water, eat.  And is it any good?  Well, my picky five year old likes it, so I’m going to say “yes” (and she does not like that freeze dried stuff).

I hope you find it as tasty (and affordable) as I do,

HJ

My first experience using the DeLorme inReach Explorer was along the John Muir Trail last summer. Not only was it reassuring to know that if I needed emergency care or evacuation, I would have dependable communication with search-and-rescue (SAR) but it proved useful in many other ways.

The DeLorme inReach Explorer can provide you with real time weather reports. Last summer was a little wet in the Sierra, to say the least. Storms cropped up almost every afternoon, but with the inReach Explorer, I was able to send a text to a specific address, and the free service sent back the weather forecast for the current time as well as for the next few days. That proved to be exceptionally helpful as we tried to plan our days around rain, sleet, hail and lightning storms. You can send an unlimited number of any of the three pre-set messages with any plan (Safety, Recreation, Expedition, Extreme). So by defining “wx now” to “+17204632647” as one of your pre-set messages, these messages will never count against your message quota.

There were also a few fires last summer engulfing sections of the the JMT in smoke. It was a little worrisome because we didn’t know if the fire posed a viable threat or if it was a safe distance away. With the DeLorme inReach Explorer, I was able to use the two way texting capability to text friends and family to find out if we needed to turn back or keep going. This information was also helpful to other hikers we met along the way who didn’t have any means of communication outside of the trail. Needless to say, everyone was greatly relieved to hear that there was no real risk of fire crossing our path and that the fire was many miles away and relatively under control.

The DeLorme InReach requires that you enroll in a subscription plan in order to receive service however, you can suspend your service at any time. Suspending your service simply puts your service on hold until you choose to reactivate it. This allows you to use the InReach for either a month at a time or year round. Plans range in price from the Safety Plan at $11.95 per month to The Extreme plan at $99.00 per month.

For the latest details on subscription plan options, check the DeLorme website.

Of course there are other excellent satellite rescue devices on the market including the SPOT Gen3 and the ACR Personal Locator Beacon, but I chose the inReach because of its two way texting capability. The SPOT is a great device if two way texting is not a priority for you and it can track your hike. It also follows a subscription model. The ACR Personal Locator Beacon is probably one of the best rescue devices out there. It does not provide tracking points or any other bells and whistles, but if you need rescuing, it does that flawlessly without having to pay for a monthly subscription.

There are a couple of things to be aware of with the remote possibility that the DeLorme inReach Explorer stops working. Fear not, there are a couple of solutions to this problem. First you can reset the device, and most of the time this rectifies the situation and you will be back on trail. If an inReach exhibits an issue powering on, pairing to a companion Android or iOS smartphone, or acquiring a GPS fix, you can perform a soft reset to attempt to resolve the issue.

Performing a Soft Reset

1. Power off the inReach and disconnect it from any power source.
2. Press and hold down both the X button and the Down button of the directional pad simultaneously for 60 seconds.
3. Release the X button and Down button and power the device on normally.
4. Test the inReach Explorer to confirm the issue has been resolved.

Also, make sure that you use the original cable that came with the inReach. I made the mistake of substituting a longer usb cable that I had lying around the house, but the quality of the cable didn’t carry enough bandwidth to power or charge the device. I had to have the original cable shipped to a resupply location and lost days of tracking, and peace of mind.

Although I didn’t use the GPS features, the inReach Explorer keeps the primary inReach function set, adding a full suite of navigation features to eliminate the need for a separate GPS unit (in theory). Let me note that the GPS functionality is not delivered on a large screen and lacks a lot of detail due to the small screen, but it does include a very simple map view that allows users to navigate with routes, waypoints and tracks. This is great functionality if you are hiking off-trail. The unit also includes a digital compass, barometric altimeter and accelerometer, adding extra navigational functionality while tracking speed, elevation, distance and more.

The Bottom Line

Overall I’m very happy with the DeLorme inReach Explorer. It has provided me, my family and friends with assurance that all is well on the trail as well as the peace of mind that help is just a button press away, if necessary.

The DeLorme inReach Explorer lists for $379.95 and the inReach (without navigation) lists for $299.95. You can find them for less on Amazon.

The author on her thru-hike of the John Muir Trail

Most of the areas I backpack in the Sierras require a bear canister. This rule not only protects you and your food, but also protects the bears. All your food and anything scented goes in the canister, and the canister is placed at least 50 yards away from camp while you sleep at night.

There are some tips to help you choose where to place that canister. On hilly terrain, a nosey bear could easily swat the canister downhill. The ideal spot would be somewhere that minimizes the risk of your food supply being doused in the nearby lake or stream, but even then you can’t be sure where your canister might end up.

The Tile app is a high-tech solution to this backcountry conundrum. It’s a small, lightweight device that helps you locate your tagged item — whether it be your car keys or bear canister — using your iPhone or Android phone.

What is Tile?

Tile is a small gadget that can be attached to attached to an object with the included double-sided sticker, placed in the pocket of your backpack, or clipped to your keys, wallet, or carabiner. It weights a mere 0.28 ounces and is less than 1-1/2″ square and 3/16″ thick.

Once you’ve registered a Tile with the free Tile app, you’re good to go. The Tile app will remember the last known location, and help you find a Tile that might not be where you expected. As you get closer, the Tile app alerts you (Think: “You’re getting warmer…. WARMER… HOT!”).

You can put a Tile on anything that you don’t want to lose, and use the app to track them. And if you really, lose something, other Tile users will auto-detect your missing “thing” and notify you without their knowledge. You can also share Tiles with your friends and family, so they can locate it from their smartphone, too.

Back to my bear canister, I drop my Tile into the canister and the Tile app remembers the last known location. I can use this to help me find where I left it in the morning (in case I get turned around). And if a bear or other critter does manage to swat my canister around, I can track it down quickly.

How else can you use Tile?

Last month, a friend of mine (Hiking Jim) lost his wallet while bushwhacking up Sitton Peak. Fortunately, he found it the following week, but if he had a Tile on his wallet, it would’ve saved him a ton of time and worry.

On my backpacking trip in the Sierras, I’ll be using a Tile in my bear canister, and sleeping easier knowing that I’ll always find my supplies in the morning.

And yes, you can use your Tile creatively. I’ve attached mine to a carabiner, so I can clip it to my keys on day hikes, drop it in my bear canister on backpacking trips, or put it in my computer bag when traveling on business trips.

Win a Tile!

One lucky reader is going to win a Tile of their own! You can use it to track and find anything you’d like — your car keys; your wallet; your bear canister. To enter, learn more about Tile, and leave a comment below telling me how you would use Tile in the backcountry.  One lucky commenter will be selected at random on May 10, 2015. Winner must be located in the U.S. for shipping purposes. 

SoCalHiker Tech is a series where I share the technology that I use for smarter hiking and backpacking.

Special thanks to Tile for sponsoring this post. They provided a Tile to review and one for this giveaway, but the opinions expressed are 100% mine. 

You’ve been on the trail hiking for six hours. You made the summit all-smiles, and got back safely to the trailhead. You huffed and puffed. You sweat. Your body is complaining–“Why are you doing this to me?!”

What you don’t want to do is stuff your sweaty, grimy body into your car for the ride back home. And you definitely don’t want to scare of the rest of the customers when you stop for that well-earned burger, burrito or pizza.

You need an after-hike social survival kit. 

Ask any experienced day hiker and they’ll all have a version of this. A few simple supplies that stay in the car, but make the trip back home so much more pleasant. I call it my after-hike social survival kit. The people sitting at the table next to me appreciate it, even if they don’t know it. And I feel a whole lot better.

What’s in my kit?

The exact details will vary, but generally it includes the following.

• A reusable shopping bag. Any bag will do, but I like the durability of reusable bags. This carries all my stuff to-and-fro.
• Flip-flops or sandals. My feet want to be free! Taking the hiking shoes and socks off after a long hike is one of the great shared experiences. Your feet thanks you. Having sandals for the ride home gives them a chance to breathe.
• Wipes. I really like Action Wipes, but even baby wipes will do in a pinch. It won’t replace a hot shower, but it will cut the worst of the grime and you’ll feel refreshed.
• A clean, cotton t-shirt. “Cotton kills” or so the saying goes. While I always hike and bike in a tech t-shirt that wicks away perspiration, when I get back to my adventure mobile, nothing feels quite as comforting as a cotton t-shirt. Especially a SoCalHiker t-shirt.
• Cold water. I love my 32 oz. Hydro Flask. I fill it up with ice and water before I leave in the morning, and even after sitting in a hot, sun-baked car all day I know the water will still be cold and refreshing when I finish my hike. Best. Thing. Ever.
• A little spritz of body spray. And I mean a little. Nothing worse than the sour combination of sweat and grime with too heavily scented body spray. Just a skosh.

What’s in your post-hike social survival kit? Leave a comment and let me know. 

Several years ago I led a group hike up Mt. San Antonio — aka Mt. Baldy. The hike was in early June, and the hikers in the group all lived in Orange County. The typical June weather in OC is pleasant. Shorts and flip-flops are de rigueur on weekends. In the mountains, however, the weather is much less predictable — and usually much colder!

One of the people in our group had a short-cropped t-shirt and no jacket at all. Fortunately, I had a spare fleece and they were able to make the hike, though the patches of snow at the summit and the bone-chilling wind made sure we hurried back down to the cars afterwards. And she learned a valuable lesson about how different the weather can be at 10,000 feet!

I’m frequently asked “What should I wear hiking in the local mountains?” Many people come to the mountains woefully unprepared, and end up either cutting their hike short, being uncomfortable, or even finding themselves in real danger.

Here’s what I wear when I’m hiking in the San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountains. It may seem like overkill, but I’m prepared for pretty much anything Mother Nature might throw at me.

Base Layer

Your base layer is what mostly touches your skin. In my case, I wear Ex-Officio Give-N-Go boxer briefs and a Nike or Under Armour tech t-shirt. These fast-drying materials wick moisture away from the body, helping me stay comfortable.

The Basics

My hiking “shorts” are actually convertible pants. My current favorites are my North Face Paramount Peak convertibles. Most of the time, the legs are stowed in my pack, but it’s nice to have them if it gets really cold.

My shirt is a Royal Robbins Diablo that also wicks away moisture. On chilly mornings, I start with this buttoned up. As the day heats up, I can roll-up the sleeves, unbutton the front or take it off completely.

The Feet

Shoes and socks are a matter of personal taste. For day hikes, I prefer my ECCO Ulterra GTX low-rise hiking shoes. They have a great sole that’s as gripping going up as it is going down, and it strikes a good balance between comfort and structured support.

I have a couple kinds of socks that I use in rotation. Picture here are Wigwam wool-blend socks, but my current favorites are my KEEN Dura-Zones, which have a lifetime guarantee.

Outerwear

I use two pieces for better layering flexibility. I have a Patagonia Nano-Puff vest that compacts down to fit in it’s own pocket. This is usually the first layer to shed when I start hiking and generating my own heat. My rain shell is a Marmot Precip. This also compacts very well and does a fine job of shedding rain or cutting the wind. It usually stays in the pack unless its either raining or really cold or windy. It also has a hood that rolls up into the collar.

Sun Protection

Sunscreen goes on, but that’s not enough. I also wear a wide-brim hat and polarized sunglasses. The shirt also helps, and even though it might be hot, on a sun-baked trail, having your skin covered can not only save you from sun damage, but keep you cooler (consider how the bedouins dress in the desert).

Reality Check

Most of the time, my pant legs, vest and shell are all stuffed in my daypack, only brought out when needed. Sometimes the wind shirt goes in there, too. But I can layer piece by piece as appropriate for the weather and conditions. I also carry the Ten Essentials, and a few other items that I’ll outline in my next post.

I should note that this is my 3-season kit, which I may adjust based on the weather and conditions on the mountain. For me, this is perfect for hiking trails like the Six-Pack of Peaks. In the winter or in inclement weather, more insulation or wet weather protection may be required.

Ultimately, your personal experience will teach you what works best.

If you have questions, or want to share what works for you, leave me a comment below. 

What is Cairn? They describe it as “your monthly box of outdoor discovery.” It’s a monthly subscription service. Each month, you receive a box of curated products. It might include a hammock or headlamp, hiking socks, snacks, skin care or emergency products. It’s a great way to discover some interesting products that you might not see in your local store (yet).

My Cairn Experience

Opening a Cairn box felt a little like Christmas. You don’t know what’s going to be inside! I was looking forward to checking it out.

Here’s a look inside my first monthly package:

What was in my Cairn box?

• PB2 Powdered Peanut Butter — I had never seen this before in stores, and an intriguing product. Pros: lightweight and packable. Cons: low fat and low calorie. When I’m backpacking, I need food with the highest number of calories per ounce possible.
• luminAID — this solar powered, inflatable light was pretty groovy. It gives off the perfect amount of light for inside the tent at night, and recharges in the sunlight. I probably wouldn’t take it backpacking, mainly because I’m trying to cut my base weight, but for car camping, it’s a no-brainer.
• Straw Propeller PB&J Oatmeal — Oatmeal is one my go-to breakfast meals whether I’m backpacking or at home. Making oatmeal interesting takes a little work… unless you get this. Another cool food item I hadn’t seen in stores, but with some interesting additions.
• Light My Fire Spork & Case — To eat the oatmeal, my Cairn box also included great fork-knife-spoon combo from Sweden. I actually own a couple of these, but didn’t have the case. Not sure I’d take the case on a long backpack, but my wife loved the idea.
• Better Soap — a really nice, all-natural soap in a convenient squeeze bottle.

Many of these products I had never seen before, but I’ll find a use for all of them. And that’s the beauty of Cairn — an assortment of interesting products that outdoor-lovers would enjoy but might not otherwise have known about. The products included change every month, and Cairn has a list of what they’ve sent in each package to give you an idea of the kinds of things you might expect to get.

How Cairn Works

Cairn uses a monthly subscription model. The current rate is $25 for a monthly subscription which you can cancel at any time. I like the “no commitment” part of that. You can get discounts for purchasing longer subscriptions. Once you’re a subscriber, you earn points for your reviews of the products, which (as you accumulate them) can be redeemed for a free Cairn box.

The Bottom Line

These subscriptions would make a great gift for someone (hint-hint), and you can tailor the length to suit your budget. If you’re looking for a way to sample a lot of different products, it’s a great option. And anything that you don’t need or want? You can pass it on to a friend!

You can check them out at www.getcairn.com

Disclosure: Cairn sent me a box so I could check out their service, but didn’t influence my editorial content in any way. 

SoCalHiker takes the new Men’s ECCO Ulterra Mid GTX boots out on the ultimate trail test — a tough four-day backpacking trek over Bishop Pass and into spectacular Kings Canyon National Park. 

When I started backpacking in the late ’70s, I saved my money to buy my first pair of real backpacking boots — a heavy pair of all-leather Vasque boots with clunky lug soles. I wore those boots on my first thru-hike on the John Muir Trail back in 1980, well before trail runners were a thing.

For this test, I did what you should never do — I wore a brand new pair of boots on a four day backpacking trip.

So how did they fare?

First off, this four day trek was part of the #MuirTaco adventure, where three of us carried carne asada, fresh avocados, cheese, tortillas and yes — even beer — for 20 miles. We were bringing unexpected nourishment and refreshment to thru-hikers on the JMT. All this meant that we were carrying a lot more weight that we typically would. In my case, that my initial pack weight was 50 lbs. Would the added structure of the ECCO Ulterra Mid GTX help? I soon found out.

Over those four days I backpacked over 38 miles with over 11,000 feet of vertical gain and loss. The terrain ranged from soft dirt trails to tough, rough granite. And not one blister or even a hot spot.

If my old, heavy boots from the ’70s and my comfortable sneakers had a love child, it would be the ECCO Ulterra GTX. They had the comfortable fit and feel of a pair of sneakers, but with the added structure and stability of a boot. This came in handy on the rocky trail over Bishop Pass and the steep descent into Le Conte Canyon.

The Details

ECCO is a company based in Denmark that owns their own factories and produces their own leather. The Ulterra GTX boots use yak nubuck with a waterproof Gore-tex liner. A lot of thought went into these boots, and it shows in little details like directional lugs under the ball of the foot for climbing, and on the heels for braking.

Since that first backpacking trip to Kings Canyon NP, I’ve worn them up Mt San Antonio twice and on numerous trails throughout SoCal. When the terrain is rocky or I’ll be carrying a load, this is now my go-to boot.

Like’em? Get the ECCO Men’s Ulterra Mid GTX Boot now on Amazon or from the ECCO website.

ECCO provided SoCalHiker with these boots but did not compensate nor influence our editorial content. They didn’t even ask for a review. I just happened to like them. 

Looking for the perfect last-minute gift for an avid (or budding) hiker on your list? This do-it-yourself project fits the bill and you can easily put it together in about an hour. It’s inexpensive, and will inspire your friend to explore new trails — 52 of them to be precise — one per week for an entire year!

The Hike-a-Week in a Jar kit is free at A16 stores throughout Southern California. Just stop in and ask a cashier for the kit. You supply the jar — a Nalgene bottle with a wide-mouth opening works perfectly — and some twine. You can optionally attach a gift card or a twig to put the finishing touches on it.

The kit includes beautifully printed sheets with 52 hikes. You cut them out, roll them up, tie them with twine and put them in the bottle.

A16 has two versions, one with hikes in and around Los Angeles County and another for the San Diego area. Each hike references a site with details on the hike — many of them from right here on SoCalHiker.

You can get the full details on how to put it together on the A16 blog.

Growing up, I remember seeing those green Stanley bottles carried off by fathers as marched to work. It didn’t matter whether they wore a suit and tie or a hardhat, they carried a full-day’s supply of hot caffeinated goodness in those classic Stanley bottles. The classic is back, in three new forms designed with the outdoor adventurer in mind.

Stanley reached out to me to test three of their products: a Classic One-Hand Vacuum Mug; a Stanley Vacuum Pint; and Stanley Flask. I took them out for a pre-holiday hike in Griffith Park, and found a perfect use for each of these.

First Up: Coffee in the Stanley Vacuum Mug

I started the morning like I always do — with a mug full of strong, hot coffee. The vacuum mug held my grande bold perfectly in my Adventure-Mobile.

I headed to Fern Dell and stopped at the Trails Cafe to fuel up for my hike. My coffee was still perfectly hot.

My goal was Mt. Hollywood — a great hike with lots of trail options. I stowed my coffee in the side pocket of my day pack. The Stanley mug held the liquid without spills, something I’d never attempt with a regular travel mug.

The Stanley Vacuum Mug kept my coffee hot all morning (or cold beverages cold for 24 hours). It opens for drinking with one hand. It’s going to fit my morning routine nicely.

Next Up: The Vacuum Pint

I worked up a sweat hiking to the summit of Mt Hollywood. Soaking in the views with the sunshine, I pulled out a Red Hook IPA and the Stanley Vacuum Pint. It uses the traditional form of a pint glass, but with stainless steel and a vacuum buffer that keeps your beverage cool for up to 4.5 hours. The pint glass includes a top with a built-in bottle opener that slides out and works perfectly.

I really like the pint glass. At home, I’ve been using it sans the top. It feels great to drink from — a nice weight and perfect form. This will be a staple of my post-hike equipment.

Closing Out the Day with Campfire Cocktails

The perfect close to a day of adventure — whether backpacking in the Sierras or exploring the local mountains — is sitting around the fire with a campfire cocktail. The Stanley Flask provide the perfect delivery system for turning a piping hot peppermint mocha into a more adult beverage.

The Art of Stanleyness

These classic Stanley products worked perfectly for fueling my adventure. They are perfect for day adventures and camping trips. They are durable and well made, and for a limited time, SoCalHiker readers can order these and other classic Stanley products and get free shipping on orders over $45 at Eddie Bauer.

Thanks to Stanley for sponsoring this post. The views and adventure are all mine.

Twitter is a great place to find outdoor inspiration, get advice and to meet like-minded outdoor adventurers. One of the best ways to get started is by participating in one of the many tweet-chats devoted to the outdoors. Most of these are weekly, online events that last about an hour. You participate in the conversation entirely via Twitter.

The best tweet-chats have a host and sometimes a co-host. They’ll select a topic and usually let you know in advance so you can be thinking about it. The chat starts at the designated time, and the hosts will kick things off with introductions, followed by a series of questions. The hosts ask the questions, prefixed by Q1, Q2, Q3… etc. You tweet your answers using A1, A2, A3… etc. And in between all of that, you can read the responses from others, retweeting and favoriting the ones you really like, and replying to others — starting a form of multi-threaded dialogue that makes tweet-chats truly unique. And sometimes hard to follow.

Here you can see an example of a tweet and a replies.

A6: It's less whether the unexpected will happen (it will). It's more about how you respond. #ATQA @themorningfresh

— SoCalHiker (@TheSoCalHiker) August 14, 2013

You can see that in this case, the co-host Katie prefixed her question with Q6 (the sixth question during the tweet-chat) and I prefixed my answer with A6 (so everyone knows which question I’m replying to). And both of us used the #ATQA hashtag.

Each tweet-chat has it’s own unique hashtag. It’s a word prefixed by the # symbol, and it is how people can search for, follow and join in the conversation.

You’ll also note that people can “follow” one another. When you follow someone on Twitter, it just means that you’ll see their tweets show up on your twitter stream.

What You Need to Join a Tweet-Chat

Joining a tweet-chat is free, and it gets easier with practice. Here’s what you need to get started:

• A computer, tablet or smartphone with Internet access
• A free Twitter account
• About an hour of free time during one of these chats (although you can come and go if you need to)

That’s all that’s absolutely required. You can join right from your web browser on your laptop or even on a phone, simply searching Twitter on the appropriate hashtag for the tweet-chat you want to join.

Some of the chats get really busy, and it can be a bit overwhelming. That’s where some additional tools come in handy. My personal favorite is TweetDeck. This is a free tool that you can run from either a web-interface or download a free application for your Mac or Windows PC.

Why do I like Tweetdeck? It allows me to create multiple columns dedicated to following a particular hashtag, making it easier to follow the discussion during a tweet chat.

And for really fast-paced chats where you could easily miss one of the questions, you can setup a separate column just for the questions. Here’s how I setup Tweetdeck for the #trailtime Tweet-Chat:

1.  The first column is simply a search column that returns all tweets tagged with the hashtag #trailtime
2. The second column is a variant of the first, with some additional settings to only show tweets with the #trailtime hashtag AND Q1, Q2, Q3… etc. This way, this column shows only the questions, making it easier to spot them. Trust me on this.
3. The Notifications column shows any tweets that mention me (@TheSoCalHiker). These are people who are essentially interacting with me. I like to pay special attention to these tweets. This is where discussions can really take off!
4. The Home column shows my normal Twitter stream — tweets from any people that I’m following.

As you participate in a couple tweet chats, you’ll begin to see people’s personality emerge 140 characters at a time. Soon you’ll find and follow people who share your interests and your network of outdoor friends will grow.

Outdoor-Related Tweet-Chats

Here are a few outdoor-related tweet chats. I’ve listed their times in the Pacific timezone (this is SoCalHiker, after all).

• #RamblrChat – Every Monday at 6pm Pacific. Hosted by Ramblr.com — a GPS app for tracking your travels.
• #campchat – Every Tuesday at 6pm Pacific and co-hosted by TETON Sports, CampStake and CampTrend — talking about (you guessed it) camping.
• #outfam – Wednesdays at 1:30pm Pacific, this is for outdoor-loving families and sponsored by Outdoor Families Magazine.
• #ATQA – Every Wednesday at 2pm Pacific. This is co-hosted by American Sahara. The hashtag stands for Adventure Travel Q&A.
• #parkchat – Each Wednesday at 6pm Pacific. Co-hosted by Flow397 and 59NationalParks, this chat focuses on our parks.
• #trailtime – Every Thursday at 10am Pacific. Sponsored by Sierra Trading Post, this chat covers hiking, backpacking, camping and much more. This is one of my favorites, and I’ve been fortunate to co-host several times.
• #hikerchat – Every Friday at 9am Pacific.  As the name in the hashtag implies, this covers mainly hiking, but delves into a range of outdoor activities. Hosted by Teton Sports.

There are more, but these are a few that I’ve personally participated in.

That’s all you need to get started with at tweet-chat! The best advice I can offer is to pick one that fits your schedule and give it a try. But be sure that you participate. Answer questions. Like and retweet replies that you enjoy. And reply to others to get the conversation going. As you join in, you’ll grow your network and surround yourself with outdoor-loving friends that will inspire you. Many of the people that I “met” through Twitter I’ve ended up meeting and actually hiking with.

Got a question about tweet-chats? Or a great tip for doing tweet-chats even better? Leave me a comment below!

It’s been said that to reduce weight backpacking, you should “count the ounces and the pounds take care of themselves.” With this credo in mind, I took the Vargo Outdoors – Titanium Ascent Tent Stakes out on a couple of recent backpacking trips. Here are my findings.

Titanium is corrosion-resistant and has the highest strength-to-density ratio of any metal. Many ultra-light backpackers rely on titanium gear to shave ounces off their base weight.

Overview

Vargo Outdoors specializes in lightweight backpacking gear and has a range of titanium tent stakes to suit different conditions. Their Titanium Ascent Tent Stakes are 6.25″ long and listed at 0.35 ounces apiece. They are designed especially for sandy soil and snow, and include a reflective cord for visibility and easy retrieval.

I paired these tent stakes with my Mountain Hardwear LitePath 2 tent — a non-freestanding, two-person tent that I’ve used for the the past four years — and tried the stakes on two recent backpacking trips. The first trip was at High Creek Camp en route to San Gorgonio, and the second in the Sierras hiking over Bishop Pass and into Le Conte Canyon.

Weight Savings

The Ascent stakes are listed as 0.35 ounces, but came in at 0.42 ounces on my scale. If I removed the reflective cord, it weighed in at 0.36 ounces. In comparison, the standard aluminum tent stakes that came with my LitePath weighed in at 0.5 ounces.

The LitePath 2 uses 12 tent stakes. Here’s the weight savings with the Vargo stakes:

• Stock aluminum stakes: 12 x 0.5 = 6 oz. total stake weight
• Vargo Titanium Ascent stakes: 12 x 0.42 = 5.04 oz. total stake weight — a savings of .96 ounces.

If I used the claimed 0.35 oz. weight, the total is a mere 4.2 ounces — a savings of 1.8 ounces. Ultimately you’ll need to weigh your tent stakes to determine how much weight savings you can gain. Your mileage may vary.

Performance

I liked how the v-shaped stakes nest snugly together for compact packing. That being said, they did not work well in the terrain where I was backpacking. In hard-packed, rocky soil these stakes are easily bent. Of course, hard, rocky soil is not what these stakes are made for, but it was where I was heading. A better choice for these conditions would’ve been the Vargo Titanium Nail Peg.

This Ascent stake would’ve been perfect on our backpacking trip on the Lost Coast Trail, or for snow or desert camping.

TIP: When snow camping, stomp down the snow as well as you can, press in the stakes, then pour some water over the snow. The water will freeze and help anchor the stake firmly. The surface area and grooves of the Vargo Titanium Ascent stakes give it better gripping power in those conditions.

The Bottom Line

If you’re new to lightweight backpacking, it may seem like a minor weight savings to upgrade your tent stakes, but you really need to weigh all your equipment and look for opportunities to shave ounces. Ounces add up to pounds, and a lighter load makes for a more pleasurable experience. Vargo makes great titanium tent stakes but be sure you pick the right ones for the conditions where you’ll be backpacking.

Vargo Titanium Ascent Tent Stakes

• 0.35 ounces
• 6.25″ long
• $3.95 each
• Vargo web site

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received Titanium Ascent Tent Stakes for free from Vargo Outdoors as coordinated by Deep Creek Public Relations in consideration for review publication.

For four days in August, 45,000 people converge at the Salt Palace Convention Center in downtown Salt Lake City for the Outdoor Retailer Show. This year, I joined the throngs winding through cavernous hall after hall filled with the latest equipment for outdoor adventure — backpacking, climbing, SUP and much more. My goal? To find a few innovations among the colorful aisles that So Cal hikers, backpackers and outdoor adventurers could benefit from.

There are thousands of exhibitors, most with hundreds of products. My goal is to cover less about what colors you’ll see in the stores in 2015, and more of the really unique and interesting outdoor product ideas out there. Here are a few of the more interesting products I found.

Sierra Designs Tensegrity Tent

Sierra Designs has been coming out with some outstanding innovations like the zipper-less hybrid Backcountry Bed. Now they have introduced the Tensegrity Tent — an ultralight shelter in one- and two-person models that leverages your trekking poles to cut down on the weight.

The Tensegrity 2 Elite pictured here is a mere 2 lbs., 2 oz. (trekking poles excluded). This non-freestanding design uses just seven stakes. It has two doors and a separate gear closet so getting in and out of the tent is a breeze. The gear closet panel can be pitched low in inclement weather, up high for a shady area, or rolled up and out of the way for star-gazing on clear nights.

The Tensegrity is a new model coming in 2015, and I look forward to field-testing and writing a detailed review this when it comes out.

myFC PowerTrekk

Portable power in the backcountry has focused on solar, and there was plenty of great solar companies like Goal Zero at the ORShow. But solar also has it’s limits. For optimal charge, you’ll need bright sunlight, limiting its utility at night, in cloudy weather or heavily forested areas. So I was curious to hear about PowerTrekk’s portable fuel cell technology that allows you to generate power with water. Sounds cool, right?

The concept is cool, and worth keeping an eye on, but not really practical for backpackers quite yet. myFC PowerTrekk uses a small amount of water and an activator packet to generate electricity. The device has built-in storage, and one cycle will generate enough power to give one smartphone a full recharge.

The device itself weighs 8.4 oz. You can optionally charge the built-in battery from a USB port before you hit the trail, so you start out with a full charge. The packets to generate a charge run about $5 a pop — making it a very pricey option for all but emergency situations.

I can see one possible scenario where this might make sense to hikers. If you are going to carry spare power anyway, you can use this as your battery and only use the fuel cell capability as a last resort. For SoCal hikers, solar will likely remain a better choice. 

Pat’s Backcountry Beverages

There’s nothing better than a well-earned cold beverage after a hot, dusty day on the trail. I remember finishing the John Muir Trail, sitting outside the Whitney Portal Cafe eating a burger and drinking a cold beer. Nothing better.

Pat’s Backcountry Beverages is bringing that experience to the backcountry. Yep, you can actually make carbonated sodas and beer miles from the trailhead. We had to check this out.

The system uses a specially designed bottle that can handle the increased pressure of the carbonation process; an activator that produces the carbonation; and a variety of concentrates for sodas and beers. You take cold mountain water (be sure to purify or filter as you normally would), add the concentrate and in about four minutes, you have a carbonated beverage.

How is it? We tried the Black Hops ale and it delivered a solid craft beer taste. Put another way, this tasted great, even without hiking 12 miles first. Imagine how it would taste out in the backcountry! I aim to find out next month on our backpacking trip into Kings Canyon National Park. Stay tuned!

Pat’s Backcountry Beverages has five gourmet sodas (which I’ve heard also make great mixers) and two beers (with more on the way).

goTenna

The goTenna is a product that really caught my eye. Many of the bigger hikes and backpacking trips we do take us into areas where there’s zero cell phone coverage. goTenna provides a way for you to stay connected to others in your group using your smartphone and a small, lightweight antenna. You can send and receive text messages as well as see your friend’s location on an offline map — all with no data connection. In fact, it works even with the phone in airplane mode.

goTenna isn’t yet available yet, but if all goes well will be shipping in December. This has great possibilities for hikers and backpackers, but also for groups traveling abroad, who can use this to stay connected and locate each other without data activation or expensive roaming charges. Really cool.

I’m hoping to give you a hands-on review this fall.

The ORShow in Hindsight

This was our first trip to the Outdoor Retailer Show, and it was a lot to digest. There’s too much for two people to see, and I’ve chosen to share just a few of the product highlights.

We also got a chance to meet up with other outdoor bloggers and social media friends like Columbia #omniten members Adam Nutting, Joshua Riggins and Kristie Salzman; David Tyler from Yonder; and others that we’ve known only online, as well as join in the #HikerChat event hosted by TETON Sports and American Backcountry on Saturday.

The icing on the cake? All of this came with the backdrop and beauty of Utah. We had a chance to explore Zion National Park and hike up to the top of Angels Landing, and soak in the varied and beautiful scenery of the state.

Got a question about next year’s gear? What you like to see or hear more about? Let me know in the comments below!

More Photos from the 2014 Summer Outdoor Retailer Show

I love my Buff. It’s the multi-purpose headwear that can be a neck gaitor, a face mask, a headband and a about a dozen other configurations. I’ve worn my Buff on the Trans-Catalina Trail and the John Muir Trail. But not until a recent backpacking trip did I learn that a Buff could also become the perfect backpacking pillow.

I had been using a Thermarest fleece pillow case. It’s fairly small and light, and you can stuff your jacket inside. But when you’re backpacking, you want every piece of gear you bring to do as much as possible, so you have less weight to carry. Curt Cragg — the organizer of the JMT JAM 2014 shared his awesome tip for using a Buff as a pillow case.

Here’s how it’s done:

What You Need

You’ll need a Buff and a jacket. I’m using my Marmot fleece.

Steps 1-2

Fold your jacket up into a rectangular bundle and insert it into the Buff. The stretchy material of the Buff helps hold everything in place.

Sleep Well!

That’s really all there is to it! It’s a quick and easy tip that’s more comfortable than a nylon stuff sack, and more efficient than a separate pillow case.

The Buff might just be the perfect backpacking pillow.

Got any other great Buff tips? Share them in the comments below.

One of my fondest childhood memories is camping with my family. We had a giant tent that slept probably a couple dozen comfortably,  and big, bright red cotton sleeping bags that would keep you warm on a muggy summer night in Indiana. They rolled up into bulky, heavy bundles that you’d never want to carry very far. But they had one feature I really liked: they were roomy.

When my family moved to California, I jumped at the opportunity to go backpacking. Clearly I needed different a different kind of sleeping bag.

Over the years, I’ve used variants of the traditional mummy bag in one form or another. While they generally did the job, I couldn’t really say that sleeping in them was especially comfortable.

I like to to turn in my sleep. I begin on my back and will switch to my front, my side and my back again numerous times during the night. In a traditional mummy bag, this is tricky. Wearing a slippery base layer helps some, but I often ended up feeling trapped in my bag as I twisted and turned inside.

Enter the Sierra Designs Backcountry Bed

The Sierra Designs Backcountry Bed is designed to give you the warmth of a mummy bag, with the comfort and maneuverability of a bed. It’s an innovative zipper-less design with no insulation on the bottom of the torso area. There’s an integrated sleeve for a sleeping pad to form the “bed” and the bag itself has a blanket-like quilt/flap that you can pull up and tuck in.

Would the Backcountry Bed live up to it’s promise of comfort for a back/front/side sleeper like me? I took it out on a recent backpacking trip on the Santa Cruz Trail in the Los Padres National Forest to find out.

An Overview of the Backcountry Bed

One of the first things I noticed about this sleeping bag is the weight. At 2 lbs. 8 oz. it’s considerable lighter than other bags I’ve used.  There are a couple ways the bag accomplishes this feat. First is the zipper-less design.

The Backcountry Bed utilizes a quilt-like flap that you can fold down or pull up and tuck in. No zippers and the added weight they bring.

The other weight-saving trick is the elimination of fill under the torso area. Instead, the Backcountry Bed has a sleeping pad sleeve. I used my Thermarest self-inflatable pad and it worked perfectly. The sleeve does a great job of keeping you on the pad throughout the night, and really contributes to the bed-like experience.

The quilt-flap can be pulled up and tucked in for colder nights, giving you typical mummy bag warmth.

I tend to get hot (depending on the temps) so it was really nice to be able to simple fold down the flap when I got too warm. No need to wrestle with a zipper or contort my body. It was very much a bed-like experience.

The foot box has a little secret opening that you can slide your feet out of for dual-cooling.

For me, the real test was how the Backcountry Bed would work with my sleeping patterns. As I mentioned, I typically start on my back, then flip-flop around throughout the night — back-to-side; side-to-front; front-to-back, etc..

In a traditional mummy bag, I inevitably get tangled up and twisted in the bag. The Backcountry Bed made changing positions easy and comfortable.

One other nice touch about the bag were the “sleeves” inside the quilt flap. When you fold the quilt down, you can tuck your hands inside to keep your digits warm and toasty.

Sleeping Bag Warmth

I tested the bag on a backpacking trip in the Los Padres National Forest. The first night there was rain and temperatures dipped into the low 40s. The second night was dry and hit the high 30s. Both nights I was perfectly comfortable.

The bag is uses 800 fill DriDown that is designed to be more water resistant. I didn’t test that, and hope I don’t have to, but it’s nice to know it’s there.

Compression and Packability

The bag compresses well. The stuff sack that it comes with is roughly 12″ by 7″. Once it’s in the sack, it can be compressed further still in your backpack. Of course, when I hang mine in the closet uncompressed when I’m not using it to maintain loft.

The Bottom Line

I love this bag, and I’m looking forward to taking it into the Sierras later this year. It’s perfect for someone like me who likes to change sleeping positions throughout the night. It does require a good sleeping pad, but seriously, who doesn’t use a sleeping pad?

The Details

Sierra Designs Backcountry Bed 800
Weight: 2 lbs. 8 oz.
3-season bag
800 Fill DriDown, 20 oz. fill weight
EN Comfort 31°F/20°F limit rating
List price $399
Learn more at the Sierra Designs website or
get your Backcountry Bed 800 now on Amazon.

Disclosure: Sierra Designs provided this bag for review with no strings attached. The joy I experienced sleeping in this bag is my honest, unbiased opinion. I really like this bag.

I am a hiker. You know this, because you’re reading it on SoCalHiker. Or you’re hopelessly lost on the interweb, in which case, let me point you to Google. But even hikers must get to the trailhead, and so most of us need a car to take us to the road’s end — where the wild trail begins. I suppose that with this in mind, the good folks at Honda reached out to me and a few other outdoor bloggers to participate in the media roll-out of the third generation Honda Fit. Which brings me to part one of my recent road trip: San Diego. 

Katie (The Morning Fresh), Casey (Modern Hiker) and Kam (Campfire Chic) were my outdoor blogging compadres. We were joined by a number of other lifestyle bloggers — I suppose hiking is a lifestyle — and introduced to the redesigned 2015 Honda Fit.

Remember… I’m not a car guy. My 2005 Xterra gets me and my gear to the trailhead just fine. Yes, it needs a good washing, thanks to street parking in LA, but otherwise it does the job. But I was curious to check out this car, and excited by the prospect of getting together again with Casey and Kam, and meeting Katie for the first time. I was in.

First Impressions

The Honda Fit looks great. It’s a small car, but looks good. When you get in and sit down, it doesn’t feel small. It was actually roomier in terms of leg-room than my Xterra–my personal benchmark. The seats were comfortable and the controls were within easy reach. We were driving top-of-the-line models with leather interiors, so take that into account.

The Technology

While I’ll admit I don’t know much about cars, I do know a few things about technology. The Honda Fit had a few cool “shiny objects” that caught this geek’s eye. First, it integrated pretty nicely with my iPhone 5s. I was able to connect and even use Siri to activate commands. In the center of the dash there was a 7″ touch screen with navigation and menus for media and other controls.

Phone calls, music and other iPhone audio worked seamlessly as you would expect. One of my pet peeves about navigation systems is that they look like hell and are hard to use. My wife has a navigation system in her car, and yet 9 times out of 10 we use our iPhones because it’s just so much easier. Of course, the bigger peeve is the cost — usually navigation systems add over a grand to the cost of a new car.

In the case of the Fit, they have an alternative. Instead of the traditional built-in navigation you can purchase and install the HondaLink Navigation app from the iTunes store. At $60, it’s much cheaper than the typical navigation options, and it integrates with the 7″ display.

The tech features were great, especially the backup and blind-spot cameras. The user interface for the touch-screen system left a lot to be desired. I really wish auto manufacturers would simply let me dock my iPad in the dash, or at the very least, let me mirror my smartphone display rather than forcing me to learn and use their proprietary interface.

The Test Drive

On Friday morning we split into pairs and hit the road. Kam was my driving partner, and we took turns driving around San Diego, eventually heading to Mission Bay for lunch. While we didn’t get a lot of time to really put the car through it’s paces, we did get some freeway driving, city driving and even threw in a few hill climbs for good measure.

I liked the comfort. It feels like a much bigger car. It’s pretty quiet and smooth, too. It’s super thrifty at the pump, too. Casey and Katie were able to squeeze 44 MPGs out of it (this is not a hybrid). That’s pretty awesome.

The Fit works a bit harder on the hills. After driving more powerful cars for years, I really noticed the engine working hard as we climbed up to Torrey Pines. But for the gas mileage, it’s  a worthy trade-off.

Another plus? The Fit can stow a hella lot of gear. The “magic seats” (their term, not mine… I swear!) fold up or down depending on the kind of gear you’re stowing, and we found it really spacious and flexible.

The Conclusion

Driving the Honda Fit was fun, and I enjoyed the car overall. If I was in the market for a small car to get me to the trailhead, I’d seriously consider it. It was comfortable and spacious, and got great gas mileage. 

Thanks to Honda for inviting me down to check out their new Fit. If you’re interested in learning more about the car, check out the Honda Fit web site.

Next stop on the road trip… San Francisco!

It was our second day of a 22-day thru-hike on the epic John Muir Trail. I was the ring-leader — I had organized the trip, recruited three willing hikers, obtained the permit and got us to Yosemite Valley a couple days earlier. I had been to Yosemite many times. I had even hiked the JMT before — 30 years earlier.

Outdoor Mistakes

Part of a series on Outdoor Mistakes where other bloggers share their outdoor mis-adventures. Be sure to check out all the posts over at Sierra Social Hub.

The young guns — Jeffrey and Hari — got an early start. The plan was to meet at  Sunrise Camp. If they got their early, they could snag the best campsite for our little group.

Joan and I took our time. As we were getting ready to break camp, we spied a bear ambling towards the campground, hoping to find an inattentive or lazy backpacker with their food improperly stored. We shot a few blurry photos from a safe distance, even as a family with children raced toward the bear to get a closer look. But that’s an outdoor mistake for another story.

We checked our gear and headed up the trail.

After 1.3 miles of climbing, we reached the junction to Half Dome. We had hiked here yesterday, so this part of the trail was still fresh in our memory. We took the right branch toward Sunrise, and hiked on.

Just 1/4 mile further we reached our next junction. Our map showed our trail continuing along the north side of Sunrise Creek, but the trail ahead looked to be heading toward a campsite. The trail to the left was much more travelled, and after a quick survey of the area, I headed up to the left.

We trudged along, climbing higher and higher. The sound of Sunrise Creek grew more and more faint. My girlfriend Joan began to question my navigation skills. “Didn’t you say this trail ran near the creek?”

I brushed off her question and reassured her that this was the right trail. “Sometimes the scale of a map can be deceptive.” Hah. We continued to climb. I was beginning to question my decision as well, but at this point, the thought of backtracking was unappealing.

One of the great things about backpacking is the community of the trail. When encountering other hikers headed in the opposite direction, it’s common to shout out a cordial “Hi! Where you headed? Where you coming from?” I used this to my advantage here. We encountered our first group…

“Hi! Where you coming from?” I asked hopefully. I wanted confirmation that we were on the right trail, and that we wouldn’t have to backtrack, and that the miles of uphill hiking weren’t in vain.

“Sunrise” came the answer. YES! I thought to myself. I turned to Joan and told her it was confirmed. I had basically doubled down on my commitment to this trail.

Still, we were climbing higher and higher. Soon we could see Half Dome. This didn’t smell right.

Then next group of hikers came heading down the trail. “Where you coming from?” I asked again. “Sunrise Lakes.” Uh-oh. Sunrise LAKES?! Could that have been what the other group meant when they said “Sunrise”?

We stopped to check our map. Yes, it was certain we were on the wrong trail. We were en route to Clouds Rest and on to Sunrise Lakes beyond. I was eating my words.

It looked like we wouldn’t meet up with Jeffrey and Hari tonight. We went with Plan B. We bagged Clouds Rest and what are probably the best views of Half Dome and the Yosemite Valley. We resolved to hike on until we could find a good campsite, then we would start early tomorrow and meet up with Jeffrey and Hari at Tuolumne Meadows.

Jeffrey and Hari were self-sufficient. We had planned to stick together in pairs, and had food, fuel and shelter to do just fine. And yes, on day three we did meet up again in Tuolumne Meadows.

So while it wasn’t a disaster, it was a heaping serving of humble pie. And it was also the only wrong turn I took on the entire John Muir Trail.

What I Learned From My Mistake

I was over-confident — maybe even borderline cocky — about my choice at the junction. I should’ve taken time to check my maps and even break out my compass to make sure we were on the right trail. Being skilled and experienced doesn’t help you if you get a little cocky.

On the bright side, while we ended up doing way more vertical gain than we had planned, we were equipped and prepared physically to deal with it. We had the supplies we needed and were in no real danger. And we had a plan to rejoin our friends at Tuolumne.

Although a popular trail like the JMT is well-marked, take time to use your map and navigation skills. And skip the humble pie.

Outdoor Mistakes TweetChat

On Thursday, March 27, 2014, Andy Hawbaker from Sierra Trading Post will be hosting an #STPLive tweetchat at 3pm PDT. Fire up Twitter and point it at the #STPLive hashtag to join in!

I love to hike. I remember hiking to Rainbow Falls just outside of Mammoth Lakes, CA when I was maybe 5 years old…floppy blue hat, pink striped shirt, my trusty pink “hiking pole” and my teddy bear tucked away in my backpack. I remember stopping in the shade to snack on Vienna sausages, canned fruit cocktail, and being slightly jealous that my baby brother was in the carrier for the long hike to the beautiful (and what felt like enormous) waterfall. But over 20 years later and many more hikes under my belt, I know that not all trails are created equally. Some hiking trails in my suburban neighborhood are just plain boring. I walk them so often that they are more like a really overgrown sidewalk – nothing to really see, too many people when the weather is nice, and that constant fear of a mountain bike taking me out.

So-called “boring” hikes may be a part of life, but I have some tips for making the experience a little more fun.

3 Tips for Turning a Boring Hike into a Micro-Adventure

Tip #1: Share the experience

While solitude is part of the experience of hiking local trails, sharing the experience with a friend or loved one can make the trail seem friendlier. Use the time to catch up or talk shop – it’s harder to be distracted by your smartphone when you are outdoors and enjoying the company! Maybe what you find to be a boring hike is an exciting adventure to somebody else. I stopped hiking during college because my roommates were not interested in it. It wasn’t until I found my current hiking partner that I unpacked my daypack and started hitting the trails again. It was so nice to have something to share with somebody else.

Tip #2: Eat like a champ

Bring a snack or pack a lunch that will keep you motivated to get to the end-point. I’ve seen hikers bring a can of beer (the empty can was promptly packed away to be recycled later), lavish picnics, and food you would not normally think to bring with you (chili dogs??) while hiking. Even a day hike deserves something special – imagine taking a pre-dawn stroll knowing you are carrying a steaming travel mug full of delicious coffee and a breakfast burrito is snuggly tucked away in your pack. I know the excitement of enjoying the coffee and the burrito as I watch the sun rise would make that the most amazing hike! Think outside the box when it comes to rewarding yourself for getting your miles in – a delicious wrap from the local deli, a Thermos full of soup with freshly baked bread, heck…as I write this, I’m trying to figure out the best way to transport a half rack of ribs and a side of mac n cheese without getting barbecue sauce all over my pack. Priorities.

Tip #3: Plan an activity

There are some trails that really drain me when I think about hitting them…another wide fire road with no views, no shade, and…wait, why am I going there again? I found that planning an activity or having some sort of goal while on the trail helps! My favorite way to spice up a boring hike is to geocache along the way. Geocaching is a hi-tech worldwide scavenger hunt that requires the use of a handheld GPS to locate hidden caches based on coordinates. These caches house a book for you to sign and may contain small tokens for trade. The caches are generally hidden in Altoids tins, fake rocks, or other small containers, but I find that when I am on a trail the containers are much bigger…like the size of a large field box/ammo can! I feel like I am part of an underground society when I go geocaching…no boring trail can keep me down! Other activities to consider: bird watching, playing “I Spy” with your hiking partner, or doing an impromptu trail cleanup.

Trails don’t need to have epic sweeping views of valleys or be home to the tallest trees in the world – sometimes the best trail is the one that gets you out of your routine. An adventure is the same way — an early morning jaunt with your neighbor may be just the micro-adventure you need to start your day.

What tips do you have for turning a boring hiking into a micro-adventure?

The 1st Annual SoCalHiker Holiday Gift Guide gives you the answers and inspiration. This is part three of three: Backpack Adventure.

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NEXT: Check out the Day Hikers and Armchair Inspiration lists.

The 1st Annual SoCalHiker Holiday Gift Guide gives you the answers and inspiration. This is part two of three: Day Hikers.

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NEXT: Check out the Armchair Inspiration and Backpack Adventure gift lists.

The 1st Annual SoCalHiker Holiday Gift Guide gives you the answers and inspiration. This is part one of three: Armchair Inspiration. Be sure to check out the Day Hikers and Backpack Adventure lists, too!

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Books are a great way to whet your appetite for adventure. Whether it’s an inspiring tale from the trail or a guide with detail beta to help you plan your next adventure, books make a great gift.

Outdoor Adventure 101

Beyond Backpacking: Ray Jardine’s Guide to Lightweight Hiking

This book was out-of-print for a while. Now it’s back, and you can learn “The Ray Way.” Learn how ultra-light backpacking lets you hike further and feel better.

Sex in a Tent: A Wild Couple’s Guide to Getting Naughty in Nature

A mostly fun, sometimes serious guide to love, sex, and adventure in the great outdoors. What more can I say?

How to Shit in the Woods, 3rd Edition: An Environmentally Sound Approach to a Lost Art

It’s the feisty third edition of How to Shit in the Woods, jam-packed with new information for outdoor enthusiasts of every stripe. Hailed in its first edition as “the most important environmental book of the decade” by Books of the Southwest, and in its second as “the real shit” by the late, great, outdoor photographer Galen Rowell, this bestselling guide is often called the “backpacker’s bible” and has sold more than 2.5 million copies in eight languages.

NEXT: Check out the Day Hikers and Backpack Adventure lists.

Have you tried camping in a hammock? Neither had I, so I was happy to give it a try. In conjunction with National Hammock Day (pretty sure I didn’t get the day off), Grand Trunk offered to let me take their Double Hammock for a test ride. We took it with us on our recent trek to the Aspen Grove in the San Gorgonio Wilderness — an idyllic spot for laying back and gazing at the Universe.

The hammock comes in its own stuff sack that compresses the entire package down to about 9″ high by 5″ in diameter.

I loved that the stuff sack was sewn-into the hammock, becoming a handy side pocket when the hammock was hung. And you’ll never lose it.

Hanging the hammock was easy. I had to identify two load-worthy trees spaced far enough apart to allow the hammock to span between them. Proper hammock technique suggest that you should not hang a hammock over pointy rocks, branches or other objects that may cause injury if you were to somehow roll out (virtually impossible when you’re laying in the hammock, but potentially possible when getting in or out).

The  nylon cord wrapped around the tree trunks, attaching to the hammock with a carabiner. It was my first time ever hanging a hammock, and it went up with no problems at all.

Once you’ve hung the hammock and tested the support, it’s time to climb in. Basically you back butt-first into a sitting position, then swing your legs up into the hammock. Piece of cake… for one person. Trickier for two adults (or maybe it was just these two).

Once you’re in, it’s like your own little cocoon. We really enjoyed looking up through the aspen trees at the sky. I’m looking forward to using this for a well-earned post-hike nap with a view.

The Pros

• Super construction. It’s made of parachute nylon and nautical-grade carabiners
• Great design, including a sewn-in stuff sack (so you’ll never lose it)
• Good for the environment. Unlike a tent, you really do “leave only footprints.”
• Small and portable. When stuffed, the hammock compressed to about 9″ x 5″ in the sack and fit easily in my daypack.

The Cons

• Insulation could be an issue on cold nights. On the ground, a sleeping pad helps keep a warm barrier between you and the cold ground. You don’t need a sleeping pad in the hammock, but as your bag compresses with your body weight, you will notice the cold more readily.
• Not suitable in areas without trees. In some desert areas or above the tree-line, this is not a practical option. If you can’t count on using it in lieu of a tent, it defeats the purpose.
• Doesn’t  sleep two. Although the Grand Trunk Double Hammock can hold up to 400 lbs, when both Joan and I lay down in it, we were pretty uncomfortable. The nature of the hammock is that we were drawn the center. Not at all bad for a short spell of snuggling, but I wouldn’t be able to sleep the night that way. It worked well when we sat side-by-side in the hammock (feet perpendicular to the direction the hammock hangs).

Note that depending on the weather, you may still want a tarp for rain protection or a bug net. Both are also available as accessories from Grand Trunk.

The Bottom Line?

The Grand Trunk Double Hammock retails for about $65. It weights about 20 oz, it’s portable and very well built. Will I ditch my tent and become a hammock convert? Not quite yet. But we had a blast in it, and we will definitely bring it along for picnics, day hikes and car camping.

Thanks to Grand Trunk for providing the hammock for this review. I hadn’t heard of the company before, but now they are definitely on my radar, and hopefully yours, too.

My mixed breed, rescue dog, Pip, is one of my favorite hiking companions. There is something both deeply peaceful and companionable about sharing a hike with her. Also, as a woman, having my dog at my side adds significantly to my sense of security which adds immeasurably to my overall enjoyment.

Pip, and all my dogs of my past, pack their own gear. I tend to load a fit dog with up to 20% of their body weight. Older dogs, long-backed dogs or smaller dogs with less. Larger, powerful breeds with a bit more. Here are 7 things that go on every journey with us:

Pip poses on my property.
On hikes, she is leashed.

Useful ID

Your dog’s ID must have a number on it that works while you are away. No point in people phoning home in you’re 500 miles away in the backcountry somewhere. Use a friend’s number or your cell, if it works reliably and you can keep it charged. For that ID I put REWARD instead of Pip’s name. I want anyone finding her to know it is worth their while to return her.

Vet Wrap

Love this stuff. Clings to itself so is easy to use and to remove. Great for a quick cover of a ripped paw pad or other wound.

Non-Stick Wound Pads

Very lightweight and easy to pack in, these work just as well for humans and dogs. The Red Cross teaches courses on pet first aid. These are an excellent idea if you plan to hike regularly with your buddy.

Benadryl

My veterinarian has advised that if Pip gets stung in the mouth or has some other allergic reaction, Benadryl can help control the allergic response. Please discuss this and the right dosage with your dog’s doctor.

Local Vet Emergency Clinic Info

If something does happen, you do not want to be scrambling trying to find the right local vet. Research this ahead of time (along with closets hospital/clinic for you) and leave that info in your glove box as well as in your dog’s pack. Hope you never need it but if you do, you’ll be glad for it.

Water Bowl

Water along the trail can make your dog as sick as it can make you. Either use a bottle that can be used as a bowl as well or bring a lightweight collapsible bowl with you.

Spare Slip Leash

Life happens and sometimes leashes and/or collars break. I pack a lightweight slip lead with a “stop” that locks it in position “just in case”.

Now you have some basics. Click these links for more info about how to hike with your dog and where. Have a great time!

“Moose” in the Woods photo credit: OakleyOriginals

One of the questions everyone asks me about hiking the John Muir Trail is “What should I wear?” It’s not usually phrased so bluntly. Sometimes it’s couched in more specific terms, like “Should I wear down or fleece?” or “trail shoes vs. boots?”

While I can’t tell you what’s right for you,  I will share what I wore, and what worked well for me.

The photo below shows Reinhold Metzger and I on our respective JMT thru-hikes. Metzger was headed northbound, while I was taking the traditional southbound route. I’ve pointed out the key parts of my hiking “outfit” that you can see, and included a couple that you don’t.

The astute observer will notice that Reinhold’s gear has a certain vintage quality about it. He’s using an external frame backpack and a mashup of clothes and gear that he’s cobbled together over the years. This tried-and-true approach is the same one you should use. Start with some basics components and add to it over time, keeping what works and replacing what doesn’t. You’ll find that quality gear lasts for years. If you watch for sales and closeouts, you can pare down the costs considerably.

Here are the details

Item	Description	Weight	Price
Wide-Brimmed Hat	There are some great choices here, but mine happened to be an REI hat that includes a drawstring for those windy mountain passes (much needed), and the brim can be snapped up and out-of-the-way when needed. Looked a little goofy, but very functional. Recommended.	8 oz.	$25
Buff Multi-Function Headgear	This awesome headwear can be worn as a headband, a bandana, a baclava, a dust screen, a neck gaiter and even more. Highly recommended.	3.2 oz.	$25
ExOfficio Boxer Brief	I had two pair. They wash, rinse and dry very quickly. They are pricey, but they hold up for a long time. Highly recommended.	3 oz.	$26
Under Armour Tech T-Shirt	This short sleeve shirt dries quickly and was a perfect base layer. It remains one of my favorite shirts to hike in. Highly recommended.	6.5 oz.	$23
White Sierra Kalgoorlie Long Sleeve Shirt	This lightweight wind shirt helped keep the sun off and cut the wind. It can be unbuttoned or removed when temperatures rise. The White Sierra brand was a great value. Recommended.	3 oz.	$30
Marmot Radiator Polartec Fleece Jacket	This fleece provided added warmth when temperatures dipped in the evenings. Most nights, the t-shirt, wind shirt and fleece provided all the warmth needed. Highly recommended.	18 oz.	$125
White Sierra Trabagon Jacket	This shell (not pictured) gave a final layer of protection in the coldest situations. There were only a few nights where this came in handy, as well as up on Mt. Whitney. Recommended.	11.2 oz.	$60
prAna Convertible Pant	These pants have zip-off legs, which most of the time stayed off. There were two times when those legs came in handy: when the mosquitos were bad and when it was really cold. These got really dirty after three weeks on the trail, but washed up looking like new. I was amazed. Recommended. Read my full review.	16.1 oz.	$85
Keen Pyrenees Boots	I debated using trail shoes or boots. In the end, I opted for a bit more support. These waterproof boots were super comfortable, especially after upgrading the insole. I had zero problems with blisters. Read my full review.	35 oz.	$140
Superfeet Green Insoles	These insoles made the boots feel like butter. Preparing for the JMT was the first time I splurged for them, and now I'm sold. Highly recommended.	3.4 oz.	$40
Smartwool Hiking Sock	I sometimes combined these socks with a lightweight silk liner sock. They fit and performed well the entire 211+ miles. Recommended.	3.6 oz.	$12
	Total worn on body weight/costs:	6 lbs. 15 oz.	$591

Ultra-lighters will probably be aghast at the nearly 7 pounds of clothes (boots included) I wore. It’s a typical question that most thru-hikers wrestle with — trying strike the right balance between function and lowering weight. In my case, it was easier for me to lose 10 pounds that I didn’t have carry — not by cutting tags off my clothes or shortening my spoon handle, but by losing the weight personally through training.

As for what I wore, note that I didn’t create a shopping list and go out and buy all this gear. My gear acquired over time and trail-tested as we trained for the JMT. And every single one of these items is still in service today.

How does this compare to what I wore 30 years earlier? That’s a post for another day…

Disclosure: The links in the table above go to Amazon using my affiliate link. If you do decide to purchase there, you’re also supporting SoCalHiker.net. Many thanks to those who support this website! 

I have hiked and backpacked for years without trekking poles. I’ve seen plenty of people using them, but always thought they would be more of a nuisance than a help. My views have changed, with this caveat: trekking poles are great when you use them correctly. Sadly, most people I see on the trails do not — something easily remedied.

How do trekking poles help?

There are several reasons for using trekking poles:

1. Trekking poles can relieve the strain on your back and legs. A landmark study published by Dr. G. Neureuther in 1981 proved that use of “ski poles” while walking reduces the pressure strain on the opposite leg by approximately 20%.
2. Poles can help your balance, especially important for stream crossings with a heavy backpack.
3. Trekking poles can improve your workout, allowing you to burn 20-40% more calories.

Last year on a hike up Mt. San Jacinto, I borrowed a pair of trekking poles from my friend Richard. Beforehand, I studied the proper technique for holding and using the poles over at Pete’s Pole Pages — a great resource.

The verdict? I’m hooked. Trekking poles make a huge difference, especially on hilly terrain or with a backpack. I bought a pair of Black Diamond poles before my recent backpacking trip on the Trans-Catalina trail, and they saved my back, my knees and my butt more than once. The steep inclines of the Trans-Catalina trail would’ve been treacherous without them, and my legs would’ve given out long before reaching camp.

There are some negatives, but those are pretty obvious. First, they can be a nuisance when you want to take a photo or pull out a map — anything that requires your hands. And they tend to get in the way on narrow trails with thick plant growth. You get pretty good at learning to stow them soon enough.

What is the proper technique for hiking with trekking poles?

There are three basic rules you need to follow:

RULE #1 – Adjust the height properly. This is a subjective adjustment, but adjusting the top of the pole to line up with your belt-line is a good starting point. You may go shorter for steep uphills, or longer for steep downhills. EXPERT TIP: keep the top section completely collapsed and use the lower section to adjust to the proper height. Then tweak the top section as needed for up-or-downhill hiking.

RULE #2 – Use the wrist straps properly. This is the number one problem that I see — most people haven’t learned how to use the wrist straps. It’s not really intuitive, but when used properly, your wrist strap will support your weight without requiring you to grip the hand at all!

RULE #3 – Swing the poles with rhthym. This is something you never really stop to think about, but even without poles your arms swing as you walk. When you put your right foot forward, your left arm swings forward as well. Our body does this to help maintain smooth balance as we move. With trekking poles, it’s no different. Plant the left pole forward as you step forward with your right foot (and vice versa). Develop a rhythm and put some energy into each “plant” and you’ll find you can literally propel yourself forward with the poles.

A few bonus pole tips

Here’s a few words of wisdom that you may not find at the store or in the manual:

• Given the choice between twist-lock or flick-lock adjustable poles, get the flick-lock. They are more reliable and much easier to use.
• Regardless of what type of locking system, store your poles unlocked. This will increase the longevity of the locks.
• Stow the baskets in your pack. They are not only good for snow, but also useful in loose scree.
• Backpacking? Wrap a 3 foot length of duct tape around the top-most section of the pole. Now you’ve got an on-the-go repair kit that’s easy to find.

More Trekking Pole Resources

• Cascade Mountain Tech Trekking Poles – These are carbon fiber with cork grips and flick-locks, and exactly what I use. You can get them on Amazon or in season Costco often carries them.
  If cost is no object, these Black Diamond trekking poles are the ones I originally bought.
• Pete’s Pole Pages – Truly one of the best resources on how to properly use your trekking poles. Highly recommended!
• POLES for Hiking, Trekking and Walking – This instructional DVD is a little cheesy, but I picked up some good pointers.

Steep and Cheap offers a wide range of gear. I’ve seen tents, backpacks, shoes, sleeping bags — all sorts of gear. But it was a long while before I actually jumped on one of the deals.

Yes, after hiking for over a decade in the same North Face shorts, I decided it was time to expand my wardrobe a bit. I saw a pair of prAna convertible pants for $39 (regularly $75). I jumped.

The process was painless and the pants arrived a few days later. Great process, and I’m super happy with them. They fit well, move with me and feel really comfortable. Being my first pair of convertible pants, I wasn’t sure how I’d like them. My hiking friend Jim prefers traditional pants because for him the zipper for the “legs” always seems to be in an irritating position.

I’ve worn my prAna convertibles mainly as shorts — which is what I almost exclusively wear while hiking (this IS southern California, after all). But there are times when it’s nice to have the option to zip on the legs — such as bushwacking through poison oak or hiking at higher elevations where the temperatures get downright cold.

My only complaint about them is that I’d like some cargo pockets. There is one “extra” pocket discreetly hidden below the front right pocket that works well for carrying my iPhone, but anything else and the pockets feel “too full.” Not a biggie, but worth noting.

Tip

Always wash your convertible pants with the legs zipped on (and the zippers closed), even if you didn’t use the legs. This way, they will fade naturally with the rest of the pants and not end up looking three shades too dark.

Links

• Steep and Cheap
• prAna

2013 Update

prAna no longer makes the model I found (the Katek). It’s been replaced by the Zion.

For the past few years, I’ve been hiking and backpacking exclusively in New Balance trail runners — mostly dry day hikes and short 2-3 night backpacking trips. It’s worked well for me, but I have to admit that on some of the rough trails my feet feel pretty beat up at the end of the day. So for my John Muir Trail trip this year, I decided I wanted a little more protection.

After researching in several forums, reading online reviews and talking to other hikers, I was ready to head to my local REI and try some on.

REI is a great place to buy hiking boots or shoes. Not only do they have a dividend for members, but they offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

I tried on several pairs and ultimately chose the KEEN Pyrenees boots. They are an all-leather upper with a Nubuck finish and a waterproof liner. At 17 oz, they weigh the same as the nylon/leather KEEN Targhee II mid-height boots. I also replaced the foot bed with Superfeet insoles. The combination of the KEEN Pyrenees and the Superfeet insoles made these boots feel like butter.

The upside to an all-leather upper is improved protection and water resistance. The downside is that they generally require more breaking in time than an nylon or nylon and leather upper.

Breaking in the Boots: A Somewhat Unorthodox Approach

My boot guy at REI suggested I wear them around the house for an hour on Day One, then for four hours on Day Two. Really smart advice, but I took a slightly less conventional approach.

At one point, it felt like I was carrying a couple pounds of mud with me!

On Day One, I hiked 4-1/2 miles on the Colinas Bluff trail. It had rained during the night, so the normally dry dirt had turned to slippery mud. I was thankful I wasn’t wearing my trail runners! The boots kept my feet dry and gripped the slippery hills.

The next day, I hiked up Holy Jim canyon to Santiago Peak. At 5,687 feet, Santiago is the highest peak in Orange County. There were several small creek crossings, some patches of snow hiking, and it rained lightly during the course of this 16 mile hike. Of course, wearing new boots on a hike like this is a risky proposition, and I wouldn’t recommend it. I took a calculated risk based on my Day One experience with them, and was fortunate that it worked out well. I was prepared with moleskin and first aid if I had needed it, and in the worse case scenario, I could’ve turned back early toward the car. I was fortunate; the boots performed like champs, and fit like a glove. No hot spots or blisters at all.

My feet stayed warm and dry, even in the snow. Yes, that’s snow in Orange County!

Of course, hiking boots and footwear are a highly personal decision, but so far, I’m very pleased with mine.

Hiking Boot Shopping Advice

If you’re looking for some good advice on what to look for in a hiking boot, the Hiking Ladyhas some great advice. Though her advice was written “for women” the general advice applies to guys as well. I’ll just add that when you go to try on boots, bring along the socks that you’ll be using to hike in so you’ll get properly sized.

And even though your boots may claim to be waterproof, take the time to properly and lovingly waterproof them with Sno-Seal or similar treatment.

March 16th Addendum

This past weekend I hiked 19 miles on Blackstar Canyon, including some boulder scrambling around waterfalls. While scrambling on wet boulders, I noticed that the soles don’t have the same “grippiness” some shoes I’ve worn. They are described by Keen as “non-marking rubber.” I’m not sure what that means, but in my experience, “marking rubber” soles are a little more grippy. That being said, it wasn’t a problem and I’m still very happy with them. But I will exercise a skosh more caution on steep, slippery and hard services.

The Ten Essentials is a list of items deemed by many hiking authorities to be necessary for safe travel in the wilderness. They were first described in the 1930s by The Mountaineers, a hiking and mountain climbing club in Washington state.

According to Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills, the ten essentials are:

1. Map – trails aren’t always obvious, and sometimes you’ve got to improvise. Have a good topo map, and better still, know how to read them.
2. Compass – goes with the map, but you’ve got to learn how to orient yourself. The Brunton 9020G is a great value.
3. Sunglasses and sunscreen – Don’t have your trip cut short because of sunburn or snowblindness.
4. Extra food and water – just in case your journey takes a longer than you expected.
5. Extra clothes – can protect against cold or heat.
6. Headlamp or flashlight – the sun does set eventually, and this is a handy way to see at night.
7. First aid kit – even a blister can be a bitch if you don’t have a first aid kit.
8. Fire starter – fires can warm you, and signal help. Tinder-Quik fire tabs make this easy.
9. Matches – um, to light the fire start in #8.
10. Knife – infinite utility, from cutting cheese to field surgery. Ditch the heavy and bulky in favor of simple and light.

There is no expectation that you will actually use all of these items on a hike, but that in the case of an emergency, they could make the difference between life and death. I would add that this list covers essentials for safe travel in the wilderness. A hike on a trail in town doesn’t require the same rigor. That said, I’m continually amazed to see “hikers” attempting trails ill-equipped and under-prepared. I’ve seen people hiking towards Half Dome wearing street shoes and carrying nothing more than a 16 oz. bottle of water. Yikes!

I would recommend that you carry all of this (and know how to use it) on any backpacking trip or wilderness day hike.

Is that it?

No, there’s more! In the backcountry, the list should really be expanded to include a few more essentials, including:

• Water treatment – tablets, filter, UV stick, etc.
• Repair kit – duct tape and basic sewing materials.
• Insect repellent – lotion or clothing.
• Signaling device – whistle, signal mirror, SPOT, etc.
• Tarp or other suitable shelter – Getting caught in a downpour sucks less if you have this. A space blanket can serve double duty here.

Of course, if these were included in the Ten Essentials, it would have to be renamed the Fifteen Essentials, and that just doesn’t roll off the tongue the same way.

Ahem… what about TP?

Some people consider toilet paper a “luxury” item. Consider using leaves or a smooth rock to wipe. Or consider TP part of your first aid kit. Or fire starter. Or add it to your list. No one will mind. Keep in mind that in some places (the desert; Mt. Whitney) you’ve got to pack your poo out, so a zip-loc bag would be essential.

Going Light

Carrying all this might sound like quite a load, but you can do it pretty efficiently if you’re creative. Make your items do double duty (i.e. toilet paper = fire starter). Carry a small pen knife rather than a big (and heavy) Swiss Army knife. Use found items where possible (i.e. a stick or a tent stake to dig a hole rather than a trowel). They key is to be creative.

Keep your ten essentials handy. I keep mine in my day hike pack, and swap out maps and other items depending on the kind of hike, the location and weather.