Pinchot Pass, the 12,093 ft / 3,686 m pass named for Gifford Pinchot, the 1st head of the United States Forest Service, is the third Sierra pass encountered by northbound Pacific Crest Trail thru-hikers (and the fourth encountered by southbound John Muir Trail hikers). It's located just 9.8 mi
The Definitive Labor Day Sales Guide for Backpackers
Labor Day is nearly upon us (in the United States) which means it's one of the about three times a year we get the opportunity to purchase heavily-discounted outdoor gear (yes, only three, because we all know that one sale a year ends up not actually discounting anything that anyone wants to buy -
Mather Pass Guide: Approaches, Crossing, and Snow
Mather Pass, the 12,093 ft / 3,686 m pass named for Stephen Mather, the 1st Director of the National Park Service, is the fourth Sierra pass encountered by northbound Pacific Crest Trail thru-hikers (and the third encountered by southbound John Muir Trail hikers). Despite it not being as high
Patagonia Strider Pro Running Shorts (5″) Review
The Patagonia Strider Pro Shorts are a lightweight pair of polyester shorts with a built-in liner, 5 in / 12.7 cm inseam, four stretchy side pockets, and one back zippered pocket. It took me a long time to finally convert to a pair of shorts with a liner, but now that I've made the switch, I
MSR PocketRocket 2 Review
The MSR PocketRocket 2 is a 2.6 oz / 74 g, backpacking canister stove with three foldable pot supports and an adjustable flame. It's lightweight, compact, and compatible with isobutane-propane fuel canisters (the most common kind of fuel canisters). You'll have to bring your own pot to the party
Sierra High Route Gear List
The gear required for a hike of the Sierra High Route (SHR) needs to strike a balance of functional and lightweight. Typically, I am happy to tell people that "if you're happy carrying it, then carry it", but since the SHR calls for a lot of scrambling up loose talus and/or boulder fields, it's nice
SPOT Gen3 Satellite GPS Messenger Review
The SPOT Gen3 Satellite GPS Messenger is a satellite messenger (not a personal locator beacon, PLB) intended for tracking, communication, and calling emergency services. It weighs 4 oz / 114g (this includes the required 4 AAA batteries) and uses GEOS satellite technology (more on this below). SPOT
Voormi River Run Hoodie Review
The Voormi River Run Hoodie is a long-sleeve, lightweight wool blend hoodie with thumb loops, a relaxed fit, and a 30 UPF rating. It's great for shielding you from the sun whilst enjoying and frolicking in the outdoors. Based in Colorado (but expanding into Montana), Voormi makes a wide selection
Western Mountaineering UltraLite Sleeping Bag Review
The Western Mountaineering UltraLite is an 850-fill down, 20°F / -6.67°C, three-season, mummy sleeping bag weighing 29 oz / 936 g. Western Mountaineering has a reputation for being conservative in their bag ratings (meaning that you can trust a 20°F / -6.67°C bag to be a 20°F / -6.67°C bag), and the