Tag Archives: hiking

Winter Camping with a Pulk Sled – Adirondacks Deep Snow & Icy Summits

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Join us for 2 days of winter camping, backpacking & snowshoeing with a pulk sled in the deep snow of the Adirondack mountains.

For this winter camping adventure, we’ll be using a DIY pulk sled to setup up a base camp in the Giant Mountain Wilderness.  Day one will be dedicated to building camp and settling in, followed by a summit attempt of Giant Mountain on day two.

Our winter pulk sled will be used for group items such as campfire cooking gear, stoves, steaks and other food, additional firewood, our tent, etc.  In addition to the sled, Mike, Frank and myself each have a backpack for personal items such as cold weather clothing options and other gear. A list of notable gear can be found at the end of this post.

Route Overview – Roaring Brook to Giant Mt – Sintax77

No permit is required to camp in the Giant mountain wilderness, but there are rules and regulations regarding backcountry camping. You can find more information on the Adirondacks Park Giant Mountain Wilderness website here.

Full GPS track data, including campsites, water sources, etc, for this trip and many others can be downloaded on my Trip Data Page.

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Tagged! – 3 Luxury Backpacking Gear Choices

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3 “Luxury” Backpacking Gear items that I like to bring on Camping Trips.  

Items Seen & Discussed

I recently tagged by Restless Outdoors to make this video. You check his YouTube channel out here. 

My 3 Tags

Winter Hammock Camping in the Smoky Mountains

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Join me for 3 days of Winter Hammock Camping, Backpacking & Hiking in the Smoky Mountains. 

For this winter camping adventure, I’ll be doing a Gregory Bald Loop Hike, incorporating campsite 13 Sheep Pen Gap, campsite 113 Birch Spring Gap, and a hike to the Shuckstack Fire Tower.  This is my second backpacking trip to the Smokies, but due to the shorter winter days, ice, and snow, I’ll be slowing the pace down a bit compared to my previous hammock camping experience there.

Route Overview – Gregory Bald Loop – Sintax77

A backcountry permit is required for all campsites in this area. You can reserve them for $4 per night on the Smoky Mountains National Park website here.

Full GPS track data, including campsites, water sources, etc, for this trip and many others can be downloaded on my Trip Data Page.

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Norway & Sweden with an RV – Hiking Road Trip

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Join us as we Explore Sweden and the Fjords of Norway with a Motor Home.

For this hiking and travel adventure, we decided to rent an RV in Stockholm, Sweden with no set itinerary and just see where we ended up.  An we ended up pretty far from Stockholm, all the way to the fjords of south western Norway to be precise.

If you’re wondering why we didn’t just fly into southern Norway via Bergen Airport etc, the reason’s pretty simple.  We originally saw a great flight deal to Stockholm ($380 RT for all fees including baggage) so we scooped it up, no questions asked.  The plan was to just go to Stockholm and make some memories happen with minimal planning. Our first major decision was transportation once we got there, so we booked a VW van.  Unfortunately, there was a problem with the initial booking and it wasn’t available. But they did have some motor homes.  Having never done an RV trip, we figured what better time to start than in Scandinavia!  And so, a road trip was born.

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Sawyer Micro vs Katadyn BeFree – Flow Rate, Size, Weight & Gravity Filter Options

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A detailed comparison of the Sawyer Micro Squeeze & Katadyn BeFree Water Filters for Backpacking, Hiking, and Camping.

For this backpacking gear review, I’ll be comparing two light weight, hollow fiber membrane water filters for ultralight backpacking – the Sawyer Micro Squeeze and the Katadyn BeFree.  Both of these filters are available in minimalist, personal use setups for solo hiking, as well as gravity water filter setups for group backpacking trips.  I’ll detail the specs, configuration options, features, and flow rates for both, along with my own personal experiences with these water filtration systems.

Both of these water filters are .1 micron, suitable for the majority of contaminates encountered in the greater North American region – cysts, bacteria (such as E. Coli, salmonella, leptospirosis, cholera, etc), and protozoa (such as giardia and cryptosporidium).  When combined with the Sawyer select system, the Saywer Micro also offers the ability to protect against viruses, chemicals, and heavy metals.

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Outdoor Vitals Loftek Adventure Jacket – In Depth Review

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An in depth look at the Loftek Adventure Jacket.

On Kickstarter until 12/5/18 (Early Bird special ends 12/5/18)

For this backpacking gear review video, I go over the features, specs and my personal experiences with the Outdoor Vitals Loftek Adventure Jacket for camping, hiking and travel.

Specs and Features as per the Manufacturer

  • LoftTek™ is the world’s most advanced synthetic down imitation. The loose fill nature of the fibers mimics down’s extreme weight to warmth ratios and packability, while the it’s synthetic nature allows it to stay warm in wet conditions.
  • Unlike down, LoftTek uses siliconized fibers that dry quickly and always stay lofted for optimal warmth – even when wet.
  • Get the ultralight warmth and packability of down and the versatility and moisture advantages of synthetic.
  • You can pack the entire jacket into its own pocket. Use it when you need and and pack it into itself when you don’t.
  • Because of it’s ultra soft material, your packed jacket can also second as a pillow. Another way to save space without compromising your comfort.
  • LoftTek™ Adventure Jacket is coated so that water will bead up and roll off rather than absorb into the fabric.
  • The LoftTek™ Adventure Jacket is fully weatherproof and can stand up to the harshest conditions including snow, rain, cold temperatures, and extreme wind without sacrificing warmth or performance.
  • If you find yourself storing too much warmth, use the underarm zippers to release some of the heat. These are especially useful during high activity.
  • The thumbholes in the sleeve ends allow the sleeves to stay fully extended and in place, even when layering up or being active.
  • The insulation dries extremely quickly so if you need to wash it in a hostel or hotel sink, it can air dry fast and be ready to go the next day.