Forty feet above my last gear, I really wanted my shoes to work. I was on an empty slab in the middle of the second pitch, looking down at a tree hanging on a pivot that could fall for a while, and started to get antsy (extremely concerned). I scanned the rock hoping to find
I bought Squama because of Bubsy Zangerl. I remember watching videos of a free climb on El Cap by a pair of Zangerl, one of the best climbers in the world. la sportiva squamas ($220) And thinking, I need those shoes. Buying a pair didn’t automatically help me sail 5.13+ big walls, but after testing
There are points throughout the year when half my time is spent traveling on foot just to clear blocked paths. From cleaning up winter storm damage in the spring to maintaining and managing downed trees and bushes after intense, pop-up storms in the summer, there is very little time left. The best way to do
Traveling the Logging Roads of Washington State in my rig, It can be easy to lose your way. That’s why I’ve now made the GMRS walkie-talkie a standard part of the kit, and most recently, I’ve been using the Cobra Trailblazer 450 to keep in touch with trail partners on my off-road overnights. Just last
It was one of those Minnesota days that makes you forget winter snow storms And the sultry oppression of summer is present. I was lying on a pebble-strewn beach along the shore of Lake Superior, and the sun, cool breeze, and warm rocks felt divine. In a moment of foolish reverie, I jumped up and
The dog tracker doesn’t do much good once the signal is lost. This is a problem for people whose dog spends time outside of reliable cell coverage. Rural dog owners, hikers, hunters, ranching families, and people with dogs who find weak spots in fences all know this issue. GPS tracking seems great until the dog
As I watched the waves crash against the rocky shoreline and my only dry option was to make it back to my truck, I could only hope and pray that the kayak wouldn’t pop. I would soon learn that this inflatable kayak was more durable than traditional pool floaties, and I had nothing to worry
The rooftop tents are really nice. But they aren’t suitable for everyone or every rig. This is especially true if it’s your go-to daily driver and you value fuel economy or handling. Luckily, there’s another option for those of us who want something different: OzTent RV/RX-Series of 30-second tents. Oztent RX-5 Deluxe Probably different than
As the sun rose over Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, I set out to run at a comfortable pace, enjoying the morning breeze and the different shades of green. While traveling on the asphalt ribbon of Winchester, Virginia’s Green Circle Path, my pace was 9:15/mile, with a zone 2 heart rate of 127. Then I stepped on
I continued up the delta in a cool start that turned into a sweaty climb. This is exactly where Arc’teryx Delta Jacket ($200) makes the most sense. It is a lightweight, fitted, highly breathable fleece that manages temperature fluctuations during high-output activities. I tested Delta for over a year on at least 30 trips into