Nothing described here should be taken as the absolute best way to do things. These are simply things that I have personally found to be useful.
External Sources/Suggested Reading
Websites/Blogs
Andrew Skurka: https://andrewskurka.com/
Alan Dixon: www.adventurealan.com/
John Zahorian: johnzahorian.com
Paul Magnanti: pmags.com/
Other misc backpacking blogs I've found
Colorado Adventures:
- National Geographic Explorer of the year for his 6 month solo trek around Alaska.
- My go to resource when I have a question about a new environment/conditions. His book is an amazing collection of tips but many of these topics are also covered for free on his website.
Alan Dixon: www.adventurealan.com/
- Another favorite. Heavier emphasis on product reviews of new gear rather than skills but still very useful.
John Zahorian: johnzahorian.com
- Some good info on gear and but the best part are his youtube videos documenting his adventures in beautiful places.
- He recently started a podcast where he interviews other crazy hikers called the "the routes podcast" which is a lot of fun to listen to.
Paul Magnanti: pmags.com/
- Some great suggestions for Colorado backpacking loops and shoulder season trips
Other misc backpacking blogs I've found
- Dave Chenault: https://bedrockandparadox.com/
- Erin "Wired" Saver: https://www.walkingwithwired.com/
- Cam "Swami" Honan: https://www.thehikinglife.com/
- http://www.drop-n-roll.com
Colorado Adventures:
- https://www.exploringtherockies.com/
- www.14ers.com-I'm not too interested in the Colorado 14ers hysteria but this website also has really good information on non-14er mountaineering routes.
Misc Links
www.caltopo.com
Boulder County GIS Data: gis.bouldercounty.opendata.arcgis.com/
Boulder City Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) GIS Data: https://bouldercolorado.gov/open-data/tag/osmp
https://geodata.co.gov/
https://viewer.nationalmap.gov/basic/
US Forest Service (USFS):
Wilderness Areas: www.wilderness.net
http://www.nationalforestmapstore.com/
https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/
GPS coordinates grabber: http://boulter.com/gps/grabber/
https://www.gpsfiledepot.com/
Go Hike Colorado: www.gohikecolorado.com/
I recently stumbled across this website. Looks like an amazing collection of cool hikes.
Boulder County GIS Data: gis.bouldercounty.opendata.arcgis.com/
Boulder City Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) GIS Data: https://bouldercolorado.gov/open-data/tag/osmp
https://geodata.co.gov/
https://viewer.nationalmap.gov/basic/
US Forest Service (USFS):
Wilderness Areas: www.wilderness.net
http://www.nationalforestmapstore.com/
https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/
GPS coordinates grabber: http://boulter.com/gps/grabber/
https://www.gpsfiledepot.com/
Go Hike Colorado: www.gohikecolorado.com/
I recently stumbled across this website. Looks like an amazing collection of cool hikes.
Books
- "the ultimate hiker's gear guide" by Andrew Skurka (2nd edition, 2017)
- "Ultralight Backpackin' Tips" by Mike Clelland (2011)
- "Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills" (9th ed, 2017)
- Focus is primarily on climbing, but the first 100 pages covers hiking and camping gear. Also, the very end of the book has a concise summary of geology and mountain weather.
Backpacks
Backpack Fabrics
Virtually all premium backpacks are made of woven nylon under brand names such as Cordura, Dyneema, Robic and X-Pac. Sometimes cuben will also be laminated to other fabrics to improve abrasion resistance. Some manufacturers such as ZPACKS and Hyperlite Mountain Gear are well known for incorporating this feature in their packs.
I've recently been thinking about upgrading to a lighter, frameless backpack for summer trips. My current pack (Osprey Exos 48) is overkill for these conditions but is reasonable for overnight winter mountain trips. Here's my in-progress spreadsheet with various factors.
I recently picked up the Mountain Laurel Designs Burn 38L. I've used it on a snow free winter trip and it was great. The only negative I've found is that the fit is awkward if it's not filled close to capacity (on day hikes etc). This is probably specific to me but I wish I'd realized this beforehand.
I recently picked up the Mountain Laurel Designs Burn 38L. I've used it on a snow free winter trip and it was great. The only negative I've found is that the fit is awkward if it's not filled close to capacity (on day hikes etc). This is probably specific to me but I wish I'd realized this beforehand.
| lightweight_backpacks_feb_26_2018.xlsx |
Sleep Systems
Traditional mummy style sleeping bags are great in very cold conditions since your are sealed in a cocoon like structure. However, insulation on the underside is compressed under your body weight and provides essentially no benefit. In warmer conditions a down quilt is preferred by many since it leaves out the underside insulation. Generally these are formed by a sealed toe box similar to a mummy bag but then opens up to function more like a warm blanket used at home.
The spreadsheet below summarizes some of the features of quilts I'm considering for summer conditions
P.S. I finally chose the Katabatic Palisade 30F. Super excited to use it this summer!
P.S. I finally chose the Katabatic Palisade 30F. Super excited to use it this summer!
| lightweight_sleeping_bags_and_quilts_feb_26_2018.xlsx |
Clothing
I've been slow to come around on outdoor clothing. I grew up in the southeastern US (Alabama) where summers are very hot and humid. It was standard to have my cotton t-shirt and cotton pants drenched with sweat and moisture within minutes of going outside midday...
The single biggest thing to look for when choosing clothes for a backpacking trip is avoiding cotton. Fabrics such as polyester, nylon and merino wool retain much less moisture...
The single biggest thing to look for when choosing clothes for a backpacking trip is avoiding cotton. Fabrics such as polyester, nylon and merino wool retain much less moisture...
First Aid Kit
Ibuprofen: Liquid/gel filled capsules take effect much faster.
Benadryl: Mainly used as a sleep aid when backpacking.
Band-Aids: I like the cloth type since they adhere and breathe better than the plastic ones. "Band-Aid" brand "Tough Strips" are amazingly sticky (think duck tape) and I've used even used these to cover blisters on feet/hands when I didn't have tape.
Benadryl: Mainly used as a sleep aid when backpacking.
Band-Aids: I like the cloth type since they adhere and breathe better than the plastic ones. "Band-Aid" brand "Tough Strips" are amazingly sticky (think duck tape) and I've used even used these to cover blisters on feet/hands when I didn't have tape.
Wish List
- Sony RX100 Camera
- Suunto Traverse Alpha Watch
