Outdoor Adventure
Last weekend, I had a chance to field-test the new Platypus QuickDraw water filter system on a 3-day trip to Yosemite. This review is based on my initial impressions. I’ll update it as I get a chance to put it through more use.
Continue reading “Platypus QuickDraw review: a great filter with a big flaw”
Confession: I have a lot of backpacking stoves and pots. I have a Jetboil that’s fast and fuel-efficient, but heavy. I also have a couple of different sized titanium pots that I use with a MSR Pocket Rocket 2 stove.
But the stove setup I most often end up using is the GSI Halulite Minimalist. It’s light enough, it packs small and comes with an insulated sleeve. And perhaps best of all: it’s cheap—less than $30 on Amazon.
Continue reading “GSI Halulite Minimalist II review: the best budget ultralight cook set (in my opinion)”
Suunto 9 and Garmin Fenix 6 are the top sports GPS watches currently. Both are well made and include more features than you probably know what to do with. But both are also very expensive. How do you know you get the right one?
Continue reading “Garmin Fenix 6 vs Suunto 9 in-depth comparison – there’s a clear winner”
I already had a lot of backpacking experience before the trip. I had even thru-hiked the Tahoe Rim Trail the previous summer. But the JMT would be quite different. Much higher in elevation longer stretches between resupplies. I wanted to be ready.
Continue reading “My (almost) ultralight JMT gear list”
Update: Check out my updated post for my 2021 trip.
The Tahoe Rim Trail (TRT) was my first long-distance solo hike. The trail covers 165 miles around Lake Tahoe. What makes the TRT a great option for a first thru-hike is that it’s a loop. That makes logistics easier: you end your hike where you begin it. It also offers numerous bailout points along the trail in case something were to go wrong.
Continue reading “Tahoe Rim Trail (TRT) overview and ultralight gear list”