I made a resolution eight years ago, deep in the Glacier backcountry, after spending the better part of a night getting stalked by a grizzly bear with only a dim headlamp between my brother and I. Having to track those…
The Mountainsmith Scream 25 is lightweight, frameless, durable, and has minimal padding, which makes it a great choice for a day hike. It packs down well to fit in a larger backpack or drybag, and folds into its own stuff…
For the month of September I had the opportunity to test out the Sterling Evolution Aero 9.2 Bicolor Dry 60 meter rope in the Sawtooth Mountains and the Pioneer Mountains of Idaho. We climbed the Direct Becky (5.11 Grade IV) and…
At MSR we believe in the power of technology to transform lives. We’ve witnessed how a stove can help change mountaineering history or how a tent can help enable a record-setting expedition. But this may be the most important piece…
The Rab Aeon Tees have become one of my favorite baselayers and active layers this summer and fall. I’ve taken them on the river, on bike rides, and on runs. The fabric is light, breathable and wicks very well. Color…
The Instinct lace-up is another great climbing shoe by Scarpa. It’s made for steep face climbing and feeling secure on small features, but is also good for bouldering and thin cracks. The Instinct has a moderately aggressive downturn, making it…
This winter I tested a pair of Upslope goggles from Native’s new line. This was a particularly fun test for me because once upon a time I had a ‘real job’ working as Customer Service manager for Smith Optics in…
The new Julbo Aerospace Goggles with the photochromatic Snow Tiger lenses are sick! Julbo brought revolutionary technology to the goggle market with the Aerospace’s Airflow system. These stylish and functional goggles are sure to become your go-to piece of mountain…
No item is more important in the climbing world than the rope, and finding one that meets all the needs of a great day out is rare. Many climbers will also fear the initial un-kinking and breaking in of…
I began using the Backcountry Access Float 32 Pack (on promo this month) this past spring. Initially I was deterred by the price and weight of airbag packs, but when you spend almost everyday of every winter in avalanche terrain it is better to…