News
To close out 2015, I’d like to share my most popular posts. My method in creating the list was only partially scientific — I started with total page views for 2015 in Google Analytics, and then I loosely accounted for publishing dates, since posts released earlier in the year have had more time to be viewed than those released…
Fifteen months ago, my bitterness reached its peak. The cause was obvious: for four consecutive years, starting with 2011, I had worked too much and adventured too little. Essentially, I had stopped being me. During the first two years, I wasn’t bothered. My work — mostly guiding, speaking, and writing — was novel and challenging,…
Earlier today National Geographic announced its Adventurers of the Year for 2016. Of most interest to the backpacking community will be the decision to recognize Scott Jurek — who in July set a new supported speed record for the Appalachian Trail, in 46+ days — but not Heather (“Anish”) Anderson, the other obvious choice this year. If you’re asking,…
I’m making a big change for 2016: I will not be offering any guided trips. Not since 2010 has my guiding schedule been clear, and of course in that year I circumnavigated Alaska and the Yukon. I have no plans for a major expedition next year, nor any that involve the other obvious explanation —…
After yet another extremely dry winter, it’s no surprise that California’s High Sierra is being affected by wildfires this summer. The action was mostly in Yosemite National Park in 2013 and 2014, with the Rim Fire and Meadow Fire, the latter of which necessitated the plucking off via helicopter of stranded hikers atop Half Dome. Unfortunately, Sequoia-Kings Canyon…
For a few days last week I was in in Salt Lake City for the semi-annual Outdoor Retailer tradeshow, where there were a dizzying number of new, updated, and proven old products for hiking, camping, running, climbing, and paddling. The focus of the summer show are items that will hit store shelves in Spring 2016. For show-wide news coverage, consult Backpacker, Gear Junkie,…
Through Monday, July 6, Sierra Designs is offering a 20% sitewide discount on tents, sleeping bags, men’s apparel, and women’s apparel. But my readers get even more love: take 25% off! Since I partnered with Sierra Designs earlier this year, I’ve had the opportunity to test out many of its products, both current and future. Here…
Exxel Outdoors — formerly American Rec, and the parent company of Sierra Designs, Ultimate Direction, Kelty, among other brands — has a job opening in its Advanced Development Center. The ADC is tasked with developing many of the “mad scientist” projects that eventually trickle down into tangible products. As one example, the ADC did the earliest prototyping for…
Sierra Designs is a looking for a fit model. Details and an application below. Requirements Reside within a commutable distance to the Sierra Designs headquarters in northeast Boulder, Colorado (Gunbarrel) Male Size Large for tops, per SD sizing. Ideally, 44-inch chest and 34-inch waist. Work + compensation About four office visits per month, for about 2 hours…
The next SD LIVE online event will air at 11:30 am PDT on Tuesday, March 31. I will start it off by sharing a series of tips I’ve learned about backpacking in the rain — foot care, fire starting, campsite selection, gear selection, etc. In the second half, Michael Glavin, the Brand Manager of Sierra…