ShareI typically avoid end of the year lists – they tend to be overly subjective and someone always gets upset when their favorites don’t make the cut. This year, I’m making an exception since 2011 delivered some remarkable gear that deserves extra mention before we dive into the new spring lines of products. The following items, [Continued...]
ShareMany of us like to watch wildlife when we travel near or far. According to the most recent survey from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in Washington alone more than 2.3 million people participate in wildlife-watching activities each year, spending upward of $1.5 billion annually on that pastime. That’s a lot of people and [Continued...]
Hiking with Dogs: The key is education not only for the dogs and the dog owners but also for the general hiking public who will surely, at some time or another, encounter dogs on trails. People with sentiments against dogs on trails will successfully push for dog bans if dog owners continue to let their canines run freely up the trails, chasing wildlife (which, depending on the species pursued, could be a state or federal offense, punishable by sizable fines and/or jail time for dog owners) and [Continued...]
ShareFirst there were flaming torches, then oil lanterns and candles. Incandescent flashlights came next and then LED lights. The new breakthrough in outdoor lighting comes from Petzl, the leader in headlamp technology. Petzl’s popular Tikka 2 series gets a refresh this year thanks to a new rechargeable — and programmable — battery pack. The Tikka XP2, with [Continued...]
ShareDespite the abundance of reusable bottles available, designers keep coming up with new, unique styles. Camelbak, a leader in the hydration business, recognized a largely untapped market and promptly tapped it. The new Camelbak Groove bottles target users who buy bottled water simply because they don’t like the faint taste of chemicals in their tap water. The [Continued...]
ShareWilderness legend Daniel Boone once wrote, “I have never been lost, but I will admit to being confused for several weeks.” Lots of hikers, hunters, skiers and snowshoers lose their way in the woods each year, but only a few are truly lost. There is a world of difference between being lost and simply not [Continued...]
Share(First published in Seattle Times NW Weekend October 14, 2010) At times, technology enhances the wilderness experience. Today’s smartphones, for instance, allow me to carry in my pack a wide range of nature guides so I can quickly identify birds, beasts, wildflowers and stars — with minimal weight. Readers seem to agree, with many e-mailing [Continued...]
Share(First published in Seattle Times NW Weekend March 18, 2010) Spring in the Northwest can be great for outdoor adventures. Or it can be miserable — cold, wet and windy. In the event of the latter, you’ll want some bombproof bags to carry your gear to warmer, drier climes. Enter Fishpond. Though designed by and [Continued...]
Share(First published in Seattle Times NW Weekend March 10, 2010) It seems spring has arrived early in Western Washington this year, which means we’ll have a longer hiking season in the Cascades. Folks who want to get an early jump on the hiking season need to be prepared for cold, wet conditions. Fortunately, a couple [Continued...]
Share(First published in Seattle Times NW Weekend January 20, 2009) Coleman’s new LED Quad lantern and Brunton’s Profile Duo range-grill combo add modern touches to camping gear. The days of finicky pressurized stoves and smelly old kerosene lanterns hanging in canvas tents are gone. Car-campers today have new appliances for clean, carefree camp cooking and [Continued...]
