Recently, my partner (fellow OPL gear tester Patrick) and I went on a 6-week journey to the Balkans in Eastern Europe. We wanted to do it all: climb, hike, camp, sightsee, learn, explore, and eat delicious food. That meant we…
As someone who typically spends every weekend in the mountains, once the snow falls and the lakes freeze over, I don’t want that to keep me from adventuring high above the tree line. I’ve been looking for a pair of…
Typically you will find me on multiple day backpacking trips, but I also love doing some quick overnighters just to satisfy my adventure itch. I have been needing a bag that is tactful enough to hold up through all the…
When the winter snows melt and the days get longer, mountain ranges formerly inaccessible due to snow suddenly open up to those willing to hike miles to see their beauty. I’m talking places like the High Uintas of Utah and…
The Petzl Reactik+ headlamp is a Bluetooth enabled 300 (max) lumen headlamp that makes illuminating camp a breeze and regulating the light you need a snap. I exclusively used this headlamp while traveling to The Balkans in Eastern Europe for…
Salewa has come up with a good match for the mountains in the Ultra Train. The idea is a locked-in comfortable fit, precision, grip, protection and ventilation–its that simple, but that hard to get a mountain shoe right, and I…
Is the Petzl Tikka headlamp up for the tallest mountain in Montana? I decided to put the Tikka to the test on a two-day trip to Granite peak. The Absaroka – Beartooth wilderness are some of Montana’s wildest mountains; the…
Whether backpacking long distances over multiple days in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest or getting out for a weekend adventure to the Three Sisters Wilderness, every time I began packing, the two things on my mind were bulk and weight of…
When I go backpacking, it’s typically to reach a highpoint. I’m going to be covering a lot of ground and gaining a lot of elevation, I’m going to carry my overnight essentials along with my summit assault necessities. I’m looking…
The Salewa Firetail 3 is a superb women’s approach shoe that excels on long approaches and performs well in fifth class terrain. The Firetail 3 is burly yet low profile, comfortable on trail and secure while climbing, and has Vibram™…