Anybody remember Mtn Hardware's ill-fated foray into active suspension backpacks with the Exodus line a few years ago. Black Diamond, on the other hand, was a bit more successful last year with the the launch of their backpack specific Enduro Series packs with Active Frame Technology. And now that they're going public, they'll need to keep the innovation moving along. In Spring 2011 they'll be introducing a new line of climbing specific packs called the Ascent Series, including the Axis 33 and Speed 33, which use the same active frame technology. In anticipation of the launch, they put up a mini-site with the technical specs, background of the technology, recommended uses, etc.
These active frame systems seem to be catching on, BDEL's ergoActive technology basically acts like a suspensions pivoting in "3D" as the video explains below. The feedback is generally positive, though when people say things like, "didn't notice the weight and misjudged the distance I could jump and landed in the river", you might want to gets some practice before you head out into the backcountry.
I don't really use a cell phone, never found the need. Not enough friends mostly, not really that important professionally, and my wife knows I'm usually in one of two places; passed out on the couch slobbering on myself or at work. Maybe somewhere in between those two places. Not to mention the fact that I have enough things in my life to waste time on, sitting around stroking my capacitive screen isn't really up there on top of my list of things to do before I die. But I get I'm in the minority on this one and that people are living extra specially efficient and wonderful lives through their smart phone. Particularly the growing hordes I see on the street walking head down, fingers blazing, doing really important, life changing things that I'll never have the opportunity to take part in, and that makes me really, really sad. But enough about me.
Lets talk about meal planning for trips. Hate it. Tasty Bites are about as far as I go down the road of backcountry culinary pleasures. Tasty Bites, some Skittles, maybe a few pieces of beef jerky. I'm good to go for a couple of days. But again, I understand there are gourmands out there that live for backcountry meal planning. And if you're that person, boy does Coleman have a "treat" for you. A meal planning doohickey that somehow magically downloads to your iPhone. Crazy. Right into your iPhone. And then you meal plan with it, I suppose. Yet another marvel of modern science it appears. And another sign my life is just not up to par with others. From Coleman:
Coleman® is pleased to announce the launch of the Cookout Cookbook &
Meal Planner iPhone application to help families prepare meals during
the busy summer camping and cook out season. Based on top-rated recipes
by Coleman®, the Cookout Cookbook & Meal Planner application allows
users to find the perfect meal based on food type, category, and
ingredients. Rank your favorite recipe for kids, best dessert or ideal
recipe for the boat.
- Make and plan the perfect meal -
Users
can search for a recipe based on the type of food and ingredients
necessary to make the perfect meal. This is the first application that
allows users to plan meals for an entire camping trip. Pick the number
of days and campers and let the application do the rest. Generate
shopping and equipment lists so you never forget an essential ingredient
at home. Special events are no problem for the application as users can
organize recipes into lists tailored to unique days like the Fourth of
July.
- Making cooking and shopping easy -
Using the
Coleman® recipe card system, families are given handy ingredients and
cooking times to guide their cook out experience. Ingredients can be
easily compiled and put into shopping lists to guide grocery purchases
and makes cook outs more fun and easy to plan. Save time by preparing
steps at home!
Download the meal planning magic directly into your iPhone. Can you believe that? Directly in there. Right into the iPhone.
Instead of messing around with elaborate meal planning, what if you could just pick up a couple of six packs of food for you next trip? PB&J in a can? Mmmm. Pork Sandwich in a can? Super, mmmm. Forget dehydrated food, pop yourself a meal on your next trip. Sadly, you'll have to wait for these to be introduced to the public, but if you're super eager, just cut the top off a Bud can, cram in a PBJ and, bam you've got your own Candwich...
Cool product out of Germany. The Monowalker flexible trailer system can be configured any number of ways depending on your needs. It can be used as a hiking/snow trailer to hump in large loads on one wheel/ski, a bike trailer with two wheels, or a backpack. Sure you're probably thinking, why would I need this if I have a 5,000 cu. in. backpack? Ever try backpacking with toddlers, even a 5,000 cu. in. backpack doesn't hack it if you're trying to bring all their gear as well and carry one of them. Monowalker is also targeting photographers, scientists, disaster relief personnel, hunters, anyone who needs to bring heavy loads into wild areas.
The trailer itself is built around an ash tree frame bent with steam and ergonomically designed to fit not only the trailer components, but a backpack, duffel bag, or a child carrier as well. The wheel includes a disc brake and the whole system weighs about 15 lbs., and can carry up to 100 lbs. Probably no distribution here in the States, but since it's pretty light it can't cost that much to ship here if you really must have one.
No, not a backpack from Mission Workshop, an "original" 1882 Duluth "Poirier Pack Sack". To be completely honest with you, until today, I had never heard of this "holy grail" of backpacks. Oldest backpack brand I know is the Trapper Nelson. But seems this backpack has some historical significance, at least to the guy in Minnesota trying to sell it for $100,000 $50,000. His listing on eBay has the full details of the pack, but here are some teasers to get you ready to drop the 50 Gs:
Up for auction is the holy grail of camping/ hiking equipment in this patented in 1882 Duluth "Poirier Pack Sack" Backpack Rucksack Bag. (Actual Date on this Camille Poirier Strap Pack is "PAT'D NOV. 10. 1882.") The application for the "Pack Strap" at the US Patent Office was filed on October 11, 1882. Handmade in Duluth, Minnesota by Camille Poirier himself, who pioneered the company (today known as Duluth Pack, Duluth-MN). A lot of history is attached to this item so please sit back and enjoy.
According to the patent filed by Camille Poirier (No 268,932 and is included with my pictures above), he "invented a new and improved Pack-Strap for holding and packing articles of clothing, provisions, and other articles which are to be carried in a package on the back. The invention consists in a bag formed with a flap and provided with shoulder straps and head-strap for supporting and carrying the bag on the back." In this bag's amazing design, Poirier was credited with the "tumpline" which is a strap attached at both ends to a backpack and used to carry the object by placing the strap over the top of the head. Later on Poirier's design came to be called the "Duluth Pack" after the village in which Poirier ran his business.
You read it right, the backpack combines a head strap with shoulder straps, as you can see from the picture. Wonder how that felt, but I can tell you I've watched people carry washers and dryers up 4 flights of stairs this way, so there has to be some merit to the idea. Graham, how about putting together a prototype for us? Bid on the 1882 Duluth PATD "Poirier Pack STRAP Sack" Backpack Bag and buy yourself a piece of outdoor history. Via Vedavoo.
Some things about Colorado suck: Brown air over Denver, ski traffic on I-70, having to get alpine starts from my apartment to be first on classic multipitch climbs, the smell of the Platte River, etc. The Colorado Mountain Journal is not one of these things. It is good, very good, like Dale's Pale Ale, like the Bastille Crack, like Rocky Mountain National Park alpine climbs, like the women who walk by you on the Pearl Street Mall. It is new. Brought to you by writer, editor, climber, and all-around swell guy Dougald McDonald:
What we cover: backcountry climbing, skiing, hiking, and trail running; wilderness and environmental news; Colorado mountain tales, people, mysteries, and oddities. What we don’t cover: resort skiing, mountain biking (yet), event listings, and gear reviews.
If you're an old traddie like me who likes to climb in solitude and would rather skin than wait in lift lines, and is always looking for something to distract you for hours while at the office, you will love this -- if you live in or frequently visit Colorado. Nice work, Dougald.
I am happy to report that Starbucks Via Ready Brew is not crap. I finally picked some up the other night and gave it a shot. Verdict: It is not real coffee, but it is not Taster's Choice. The beans are micro-ground, rather than freeze-dried, so it tastes less like a boot.
I wouldn't call myself a Starbucks fan -- I am happy they exist, as it keeps me from having to drink way too much truck stop coffee on road trips. But I don't go looking for them if there's another coffee supplier nearby.
If you're one of those people who proudly announce "I don't drink Starbucks coffee!" at every opportunity, I assume you're not going to buy this. I am, and I'm going to enjoy the shit out of it. I hate doing dishes when I'm in the backcountry. When I'm done eating breakfast, I want to finish my coffee and hit the trail, not sit around trying to clean a french press, or any other contraption that makes coffee. Cowboy coffee is an OK solution, but I'm still chucking the grounds into the woods, which isn't exactly LNT. In this little package, three 8-ounce cups of coffee weigh .35 ounces.
I am a fan. Now, if someone would just show me where to buy something that I can use to "micro-grind" beans, I won't even have to buy this stuff. Downside is it's expensive as hell compared to every other instant coffee at the supermarket: $2.95 for a 3-pack, $9.95 for a 12-pack.
I hate hiking boots. I can't remember the last time I looked at a heavy pack sitting on my living room floor and thought about wearing high-top shoes for an approach hike or backpacking trip.
I'm not the "ounces equal pounds, and pounds equal pain" guy. If a route calls for a rack up to a No. 3 Camalot, I'll pack two No. 3s and probably a No. 4. I bring one pound of Peanut M&Ms every time I touch a trail. It's not the weight -- I just prefer a pair of shoes to clunky hiking boots.
Never heard of them until last week. Farthest we got up along the sock technology learning curve was X-Socks, which we liked, so we stopped there. Seems we should have kept looking, because the AAI guides seem to think these socks are the shiznit:
Our guides found that Drymax Socks did a better job at keeping their
feet dry inside their boots, than any other sock that was tested.
Drymax has not built a sock that "wicks" moisture away from your feet.
Instead they have engineered a fiber technology, that keeps water, and
sweat from bonding to the socks fibers on a molecular level. This means
that moisture does not need to adhere to the socks fibers to move away
from your feet. This allows the warmth of your feet to mechanically
force the moisture out and away from your foot much more easily than
the typical wicking process. When our guides took these socks to
Alaska, they found that they performed great in plastic mountaineering
boots. If Drymax Socks kept our guides feet dry and comfortable at
20,000 feet and in subzero temperatures, imagine how they could make
your feet feel on your next trip!
Not only do guides love them, but the front page of the Drymax site has a hot blonde talking about how much she loves them too. Soooo, guides and hot blondes love Drymax, shouldn't you try them?
Anybody remember Mtn Hardware's ill-fated foray into active suspension backpacks with the 
Never heard of them until last week. Farthest we got up along the sock technology learning curve was 
