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Fly Fishing

Time on your hands? Clean up for season opener

Here in Washington, not only are we under a stay-at-home order but even if we venture out, we can’t fish. All state lands are closed, and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has closed ALL hunting and fishing seasons until further notice. So anglers have plenty of time on their hands this spring. Fly […]

Sage targets trout with new rod & reel

Sage Trout LL rod & Trout reel designed for dry fly fishers In recent years, most fly rod designers have focused on stiffer, faster, more powerful casting rods. This season, though, Sage engineers took a step back to address the needs of the traditional dry fly anglers who pursue trout. The Sage Trout LL rod […]

Orvis puts pro gear on everyday anglers

A lot of companies sell products labeled as “Pro” gear but few of those products truly meet the needs of professionals. Fishing guides, pro anglers, fisheries biologists, and riparian scientists are professionals who spend hundreds of hours each month in waders and wading boots, plunging through cold rivers and water bodies. Orvis’ design teams considered […]

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Hiking Gear

Outdoor inspiration for brewers, vintners, and distillers

Ever since humans learned the secrets of fermenting beverages, they’ve enjoyed drinking those potent potables around their campfires. Today, a host of producers of liquor, beer, and wine use their love of the outdoors and their adventures in the wilds to create their boozy concoctions. With this in mind, our test team worked diligently to […]

Best Sleeping Bags: Winter 2017/18

For months, we used a huge array of new sleeping bag and came up with a handful of products we think are worthy of mention. Here’s what we liked, and the activities for which they are best suited.  Kelty Tru.Comfort 20 Best for festival camping (and couch surfing) The feature-rich Tru.Comfort 20 offers a luxurious […]

Pulse Camera Remote

For the diehard hikers still shooting dSLRs, the Pulse Camera Remote from Alpine Laboratories offers a new level of photographic freedom. The slim Pulse slips in your camera’s hotshoe and provides remarkable remote shutter — and indeed, camera — control. Not only does the Pulse give you a remote trigger for individual shots, it allows […]

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Trail Guide

Hiking Guide: Lower Lena Lake & beyond

The path leaves the Hamma Hamma road and climbs 1,200 feet through a mix of old-growth and second-growth forest to Lower Lena Lake (3 miles, one-way). The Lena Lake area has a great mix of environments to explore, and enough versatility that it can be a fantastic family hiking destination or a route for hard-core […]

Hiking Guide: Bean Creek Basin & Earl Peak Saddle

Bean Creek Basin trail climbs through fragrant flower meadows and offers great looks up to surrounding peaks, but even better views of the incredible ponderosa pine forests and dry-side wildflower fields. You’ll find a plethora of blooming plants—wildflowers of all varieties—grace the valley pierced by this trail. An army of wild critters calls the basin […]

Hiking Guide: Thorp Mountain

It’s a short hike, but one to tax the strength of even the toughest hikers. But the strenuous climb earns you great rewards. The top of Thorp Mountain sports a rustic old fire lookout cabin, and anywhere these watch stations were constructed you’ll find outstanding views in every direction. Thorp is no different—from the heather-carpeted […]

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Camp & Travel

Planning a Post Lock-down Road Trip

The coronavirus pandemic indelibly altered our social landscape, but we will see renewed opportunities for travel and personal interactions. As travel restrictions dial down, we can return to outdoor adventures by gradually ramping up our activity. A great way to start our return to normalcy is to head out to a remote car camping destination. […]

Snow Peak helps make Memorial Day memorable in an age of social distancing

Memorial Day honors those who sacrificed all for the betterment of our society. Today, when all of society has been asked to sacrifice a small part of their comfort for the betterment of our society, Memorial Day stands as an even bigger testament of our commitment to our neighbors and communities. But Memorial Day also […]

Durable vessels for backcountry boozers

For centuries, humans have stored alcoholic beverages in glass containers, in large part because glass bottles have been inexpensive and easy to produce compared to other options. But also, because glass is chemically stable – there is no leaching of chemicals into the booze, nor is there a chemical reaction between the container and its contents.  […]

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Books for Sale

Wildlife

Best Binocs for Wildlife Adventures

Many of us like to watch wildlife, it seems. According to the latest survey from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), more than 23 million people participate in wildlife watching activities each year, spending upwards of $12.1 Billion annually just on gear specifically used on viewing activities – the expenditure jumps to a whopping $75.9 […]

Photo Essay: NW Wildlife

My appreciation for wild things came early. My mid-western family relocated to the west when I was just 4, and it didn’t take long for me to fall in love with the mountains around our new home. Soon after arriving in Washington, my family took to the low, pine-covered mountains that flanked our small town. […]

Birds of the Nisqually Delta

A visit to Nisqually Delta is all about the birds. Whether you bring the kids and enjoy a simple stroll along the short loop to the Twin Barns, or gear up for a leg-stretching jaunt out the nearly 5-miles of the raised boardwalk pier, it will be the birds that capture your attention and imagination. […]

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