We’ve noticed here at Tahoe Mountain Sports that when somebody wants a hydration pack, they ask for a CamelBak – a brand name synonymous with the category just like Kleenex is with tissue.

The heart of the system is the hydration reservoir, and CamelBak hasn’t rested on their laurels since the old IV bag and tube sock, constantly making improvements, culminating in the CamelBak Antidote. The hydration bladder features a baffled design so it lies flatter when full, built-in arms that aid in drying for daily care, a easier to open lid, and a quick disconnect hose. As for durability, you can find videos on the internet of them being run over by bicycles – and trucks – without springing a leak.

Here’s a quick overview:

A new innovation that’s proving to be a big hit both in the backcountry and for travelers is the All Clear Water Bottle that has a built-in ultraviolet water treatment system in the lid. Just fill the bottle up from a lake, stream or other suspect source, turn it on, and disinfect.

Here’s a quick look at this great new backcountry water treatment system:

We’re also carrying a full range of BPA-free water bottles, stainless steel water bottles, hydration packs and accessories from CamelBak this year, so if you’re looking for the best way to stay hydrated on the go, check out our full selection of CamelBak gear at Tahoe Mountain Sports.

CamelBak Antidote 50
MSRP: $29.95
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CamelBak Eddy Kids Bottle
MSRP: $12.95
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CamelBak Day Star Pack
MSRP: $79.95
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We now have a world record holder in our midst here in the shop: the Blizzard Champion model of the Innova Boss, which David Wiggins Jr. launched 255 meters (836 feet) on April 13th in Primm, Nevada.

David’s throw (with a 134g Innova Boss) beat the near-decade-long title held by Christian Sandstrom, who set an 820-foot record on April 26, 2002 with an Innova DX Valkyrie.

You can watch David (only 16 years old!) in action as he breaks this record below. The winning throw comes just after 2 minutes in.

There’s obviously a lot of technique involved, but we bet his new disc helped David out too. This year, Innova released a new Blizzard technology incorporating thousands of microbubbles into its durable Champion plastic. The company considers this a huge milestone, and this new record proves the capability of this technology. The microbubbles allow for high-speed, premium plastic drivers in weights down to 130 grams. Innova’s testing even shows that their models under 140 grams will float… nice for those of us who play near water.

Here’s what David Wiggins Jr. says about the Blizzard technology:

“I love the new Blizzard technology discs! I recently went to New Mexico and thoroughly tested them side by side with other discs at various elevations and wind speeds. The new Blizzard discs came out on top. . . .
From what I’ve observed, the Blizzard discs fly with almost the same stability as the equivalent model 20 grams heavier. They feel and throw like heavier discs than they actually are. This allows for much longer throws, especially in the right conditions. I’ve tested the new Blizzard discs in weights ranging from 130g to 155g and can honestly say that these are going to add distance to many disc golfers’ games. From the average player to the experienced pro, everyone can benefit from Blizzard Champion Discs.”

And a few more pros chimed in on the Innova Boss specifically, on the Innova website:

Dave Feldberg

“The Boss is my favorite disc for distance shots. It gives me the distance and control to perform my best in tournament play. It has elevated my distance game. It works great for skip shots, low shots, high shots and any kind of disc golf shot you throw. Try the Boss, it will get to the basket first!”

Gregg Hosfeld

“I’ve come within a few feet of my all-time personal best in distance throwing the Champion Boss…against the wind.”

Try out the Innova Boss and the other lineup of Blizzard Champion discs for yourself; we’ve got them in stock and ready to ship!

Innova Boss Blizzard Champion Disc
MSRP: $16.99
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Innova TeeDevil Blizzard Champion Disc
MSRP: $16.99
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Innova Destroyer Blizzard Champion Disc
MSRP: $16.99
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WHO: Lis and Chris

WHAT: Zion hiking and camping, part one of our Utah roadtrip, from Tahoe to Zion National Park to Escalante and back

WHEN: April 14–22, 2012

WHERE: Zion National Park, Utah

GEAR: MSR cookset, Lole Twist tanktop, leatherman

Wow. Utah is amazing! Zion National Park was the first stop on our roadtrip last month and the weather was prime for hiking and camping. Cool nights, not too hot days, I highly suggest a spring visit to this park. It took us about 11 hours to get to the park from our home on Tahoe’s West Shore, but we stopped for plenty of photos.

We arrived to the park at sunset and chose the Watchman Campground to set up our tent. It’s more set back from the main road than the South Campground, with newer amenities. Our site was on the outer rung of the campground, providing great views of the towering Watchman right from our tent. We couldn’t secure the site for two nights though, so night 2 we set up camp at the walk-in site the next night. You have to walk in your gear, but bear boxes keep your food safe for the night, and some communal campfire spots make the walk-in sites great for groups. An extra bonus was a short, steep trail up the knoll behind our tent to a historic Indian storage site with great valley views.

Day One we got right into hiking, choosing to tackle the famous Angels Landing first. A rocky cliff that juts up from the valley floor right smack in the middle of the park, it’s a one-of-a-kind hike that provides views of the canyon from every angle. You start at the Virgin River, near towering Fremont cottonwoods, on a very pedestrian friendly trail (mostly paved) trail. There are tons of switchbacks but the hike is very easy due to the mostly paved terrain.

At the top of the most-traveled trail is a fork: Left leads on the West Rim Trail, along a trail affording views of Moonlight Buttress (one of Chris’s climbing goals so we made an excursion out here after Angels). Right leads the rest of the way (1.5 miles) along a spiky ridge to the top of Angels Landing. This part is not for the height-sensitive. Or is it? I am pretty afraid of heights but was so happy that I did this hike, or scramble. Lots of chains are installed to help you up the tricky sections. The slickrock topped with sand is a bit fear-inducing if you’re not used to it but you’ve just got to trust your feet. It’s amazing the amount of people that do this hike despite its difficulty. As we were going up, an older couple from Florida was behind us and made it to the top. I kept watching all the flatlanders around me and told myself that if they could do it, I had no excuse to be afraid.

After descending we treating ourselves to lounging by the Virgin River in the sun, shoes off and bare feet in the frigid water.

Day Two we set off for a full lengthwise hiking tour of Zion. We took the park shuttle to the end of the canyon and hiked the 1 mile approach to The Narrows. The water was too high for The Narrows to be open but when it is you can continue up canyon to ultra-narrow walls as you walk up into the Virgin River.

Though not advertised, there is a small riverside trail that runs most of the way down the park. It’s a beautiful way to see the park outside of the shuttle; we were even treated to a deer herd running by us and crossing the river. Big Bend was one of our favorite stops as it’s just north of our previous day’s hike and has great vistas as the river takes a huge turn around Angels Landing. From there, we continued down the small river trail to Weeping Rock, where we hiked up to the Weeping Rock and to Hidden Canyon, for more chain-assisted hiking to a dark hidden canyon. As you can see in the below photos, the trail wraps along a cliffside for some pretty cool hiking terrain.

From Weeping Rock to the next shuttle stop down canyon (The Grotto, where you get off to hike Angels Landing), there is not a good riverside trail, so you’ll need to take the shuttle. We tried to do that hike but had to hike on the road for half of it, so take my advice and shuttle it!

At The Grotto, we crossed the river to the Kayenta Trail that follows the riverbank up to Emerald Pools. This trail was awesome, with great river views, mellow hiking and a cool section that goes through a split rock. This trail is definitely one of the best Zion hikes that the whole family can do.

After two full days of hiking (and a big backpacking trip ahead of us), we treated ourselves to afternoon ice cream and then dinner at the Whiptail Grill in Springdale, the town just outside the park. The chicken enchiladas with chile verde sauce are a must-order!

Day Three we headed on our next adventure, toward Escalante, which afforded us a great opportunity to see the rest of Zion National Park with a drive on the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway. While you can’t drive up the main canyon, you can drive on this part, and the road takes you through a long tunnel and then out onto a dramatically different landscape that looks a lot more desert. Then it was off to Escalante for slot canyons and backpacking… which I’ll tell you all about in Part Two of this adventure.

The Tahoe Mountain Sports Adventure of the Week blog series takes a walk, hike, bike, or Zion National Park hike in someone else’s shoes, from pro athletes to local Tahoe adventurers. Let us know if you’ve got an adventure to share.

Lole Twist Tank Top
MSRP: $49.95
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MSR Stainless Steel Camp Mug
MSRP: $14.95
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Leatherman Juice Pocket Knife
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Training for a big mountain is a funny thing.  Oftentimes people who have their sights set on a far away peak don’t live anywhere near the mountains.  Those of us who are lucky enough to reside in a mountainous domain are still challenged by the fact that the mountains we live near are usually much shorter that whatever goal we have in mind.  Clay and I have found ourselves in both of these situations and it has made for an interesting 9 months of training. I live in Tahoe, which is a great area if you are in training for a mountain goal.  Although the peaks top out around 10k feet, the plethora of mountains means I have plenty to keep me busy. Clay on the other hand lives in eastern Kansas, where the hills roll and the mountains are but a distant memory.  He has had to adapt his training regiment to suit his surroundings and busier life.  Here, in our own words, is how we manage training for mountain climbing with and without mountains.

BRAD: TRAINING IN TAHOE

I have always subscribed to the sport-specific method of training; the best training for a sport is to play the sport itself.  Of course, I cannot go climb Denali all year, but expedition climbing a big mountain (as opposed to light and fast alpine style) is all about carrying lots of gear, and Tahoe affords me ample opportunity to prepare myself for really heavy loads.  Having so many peaks out there helps me have lots of fun peak-bagging and seeing new places, and helps stave off the inevitable boredom that training eventually educes.

During the summer months I found myself hiking on dry dusty trails up to the many close summits that surround Tahoe.  My two favorite trails for weight training became the “direct” approach to Pyramid Peak and the Ralston Peak trail.  The Pyramid trail is a steep 4000-foot climb over a short 3.5–4 miles.  This allows for a really tough day that can be completed relatively quickly.  The trail offers spectacular views of Lovers Leap to the south and is the perfect outing for anyone who wants a stiff challenge.

The Ralston Peak trail starts higher and is thus shorter.  It is also less steep, more scenic, is a little closer to Meyers, which all together provides a shorter day.  It is also, in my opinion, the best-kept secret in Tahoe day hikes.  Although no one ever talks about Ralston except to backcountry ski, this peak overlooks Echo and Aloha lakes and rewards hikers with some of the most magnificent views that Tahoe has to offer.

Besides being a climber that was in descent physical shape to begin with, I began my Denali training 9 months ago in the summer of 2011.  I stayed pretty casual about it but tried to get out at least once a week for a steep day hike.  I began with a 40 lb pack and eventually worked my way up to 60 on the trail.  Because Tahoe did not produce a heavy winter this year, I stayed in trail hiking mode for many months, gradually increasing weight, distance and height.

Along with hiking I continued body weight strength training; pushups, climbing hangboard and pilates to build and maintain overall strength.  I do not lift heavy weights, in part because as a climber I avoid adding mass, but mainly because I do not have access to a gym with weight lifting equipment.  I also began running, which I hate, but I find running important as it adds an aspect of high-output cardio that helps me maintain a lower working heart rate while on a mountain.  Running is also a great way to get a quick workout when you are pressed for time or can’t get out for a long day.  I began with jogging a mile or two and worked my way up to five, where I capped my distance runs.  In the 3 months prior to departure I added interval training, starting slow and working up to one hour of intervals at 45 seconds of fast running and 75 seconds of walking for recovery.  Interval training is great and I like it much more than distance running.  It is a fantastic cardio workout, can be done on a bike, is a great way to burn fat if needed and is a good way to change things up to add variety to your workouts.

When it finally snowed in Tahoe I switched my regiment to more specific activities.  On Denali we will be traveling on skis and pulling a heavy sled along with carrying a pack.  Fountain Place Road, one of Tahoe’s service roads offers a great “day one” simulation in that it rises 1500 feet over 4.5 miles (a little taller than base camp to camp one on Denali.  In times of good snow coverage, I skinned up Fountain Place road, carrying my pack and pulling a sled.  Once on top I could dump weight and ski down the road creating a realistic gear cache scenario and a shorter day out than just hiking.  This not only allowed me to gain sport-specific strength and experience what working day to day will feel like, it also allowed me to test my gear and dial in my sled system.  Again, I gradually added weight until I was able to carry a 65 lb pack and pull a 70 lb sled, hopefully 20 or more lbs beyond what I will haul on the mountain.

As the weather has turned warmer I have heard the climbing-sirens’ irresistible call and have spent more time on the rock, which is probably not the best choice but keeps me sane and physically strong.  I have also hit the road more, putting in long rides on my cyclocross bike.  With little lake level snow I have abandoned the sled and mainly run and ride for my cardio workouts, but I do so knowing I can now handle the weight and feel that if I hit the mountain tomorrow I am ready for the challenge.   Tahoe has helped me prepare well.

CLAY: TRAINING IN EASTERN KANSAS

Oh my goodness, I miss the mountains!  When I graduated from the University of Kansas in the winter of 2005, my stint in the flatlands was done.  I KNEW that I would never again be subjected to the unrelenting monotony of the Great Plains.  I gratefully migrated upstream to the rugged, majestic beauty of the mountains.  Love at first hike!  Rolling amazing terrain to hike, bike, run, climb, snow slide and swing ice tools… everything that I had longed for in the days of my youth in Kansas City.  The mountain lifestyle got in my blood and, as with many of our ilk, became my lifestyle.  My days of laziness and inactivity were a thing of the past!  I found myself getting cranky if I was not out pushing myself mentally on the sharp end or post holing at altitude with the dogs “helping” to break trail.  Training was never really on my mind, but the daily hike, climb or ride became the norm.  I found grace in the seasonal migrations, following the snow uphill toward Summit County, CO, and then sliding with the melting snow down to the Left Coast for summer gardening and High Sierra playing.  The grace of my waste vegetable oil–powered suburban and dumpster-diving for food made the free flow quite literal.

Ahh the days of yore…. writing about them brings a big ‘ol smile and loads of gratitude for that lifestyle.  Training was not something that ever crossed my mind.  Daily, I would scratch whatever itch popped up and stay in darn good shape in the process.  Alas, change is the only constant in life, and a wedding in October of 2011 lured me back to Kansas City.  I had a blast welcoming a new cousin-in-law to the family, and a 10-year reunion two weeks later seemed like a good way to wait for the snow to start falling in the high country.  Well, there must be something about the combination of family, friends and loads of connections that can spring the trap of opportunity.  I got snagged, hook, line and sinker, and found myself teetering on the edge of moving back to the flatlands.  Fortunately, a climb of Rainier at the end of September 2011 with great friends led to a promising opportunity of another sort – a trip back to Alaska.

So, this past fall, I found myself with one of the most challenging decisions I have made in a long time: leave the mountains where I had found my bliss playing in the hills, connection to the Creator and a groovy seasonal lifestyle, or return to the flatlands to pursue exciting new opportunities and create a more sustainable future in community with family and friends.  Hello conundrum!  After loads of wrestling with pros and cons, ups and downs, ins and outs, the return to the homeland won.  BUT, the caveat was that I had something BIG to look forward to – a trip to attempt Denali.  I realized that this meant a huge change in my lets go play out the back door in the mountains mentality, to getting psyched up to train with a heavy pack running up stairs over and over.  I love challenges, and generally thrive when they are presented.  However, the abrupt and somewhat rude transition from earning my turns at 13,000’ after work to dripping sweat in a poorly lit stairwell in a tall building in Kansas City, Missouri, was, well, shocking.

I found that the surreptitious access to a hotel stairwell had replaced ducking ropes for powder turns; 330’ at a time with an elevator descent had replaced my hike off of 6 chair to Snow White Chutes at 12,000’ and descending with graceful turns down to the chairlift for another lap.  Every week as I add another gallon of water to my pack or push for another lap in the dingy stairwell, I am motivated by the slopes of the Great One.  It is a change to say the least.  The miracle of the interweb continues to provide a constant level of motivation.  Videos, blogs and trip reports all help to keep me motivated, knowing that others are out there getting the goods in the alpine realm.  Regular trips also help keep the stoked meter up.  An annual trip to Red Rocks in Vegas provided an opportunity to pack in some serious climbing.  A return to Colorado to collect gear and dial in my ski/skin setup allowed me to solo some ice and grab some turns for sanity’s sake.  Most recently, a trip to New England allowed for the first time exploration of the Gunks and Northern New England.  Variety is a spice that I love, and it has certainly helped with the transition in both living location and training.

Finding ways to stay motivated with little to no vertical relief is far and away the most challenging part of living in Kansas City.  The land that I had been caretaking in the San Luis Valley, CO, has an unbelievable view of the Sangre De Cristo mountains – 6000’ of vertical from valley floor to the summits of the Crestone Group of 14’ers.  I placed my hangboard to maximize that view, and each session my inspiration and motivation came from the majesty before me.  I went from that view to 33 lonely flights of stairs in a dark stairwell.  Lets get psyched!  I have never been a gym person and the idea of spending federal dollar notes to go sweat with suburbanites makes me want to puke.  Time to reinvent and revamp the daily routine!  I have found myself doing things that in the past I thought were crazy.  However, necessity is the mother of invention, so the knobby tires came off the bike and slicks went on, the harness went into storage and the running shoes were found.  No skis, snowboard or ice axes to play with this year – they were left for a lonely winter in a barn.  I had gallon water bottles, ankle weights and a heart monitor to play with this winter.  Learning intimately about interval training, hill repeats, periodization, nutrition are all part of the arduous and sweaty process.  I have managed to find ways that I feel actually simulate some of the motions that will be encountered on the mountain.  I spent a week shoveling, wheelbarrowing and raking more than 200 cubic feet of compost on a suburban permaculture project.  If pushing 6 cubic yards of compost in a wheelbarrow through mud is anything like pulling a sled on a glacier than I am feeling pretty ready for this!

In the past several months, I have carried heavier loads, ran and ridden longer distances and durations than I ever thought possible.  Pushing my body to the edge of its capability in new ways has proven to be an interesting and delightfully surprisingly change from simply playing.  The necessity of changing both my mentality and mode of training has helped me to change my view on exercise.  I am aware of the importance of daily physical activity on a deeper level.  Living in Colorado, being active literally came with the terrain.  Living in Kansas, exercise has become a necessity for sanity, yet one that does not come without motivation.  Finding that motivation daily to go out and push myself is one that I still am challenged with. Fortunately the dangling carrot of Denali gets me stoked!

Tips for big mountain training

1. Form a training log.  Google docs is a great way to share what you and your partners are doing and helps keep you honest.

2. Carry water or other eject-able ballast.  Water is heavy and allows you to dump your load at the summit to save your knees on the descent.  Rocks can be used if you don’t want to waste water but water allows you to really fine tune your pack weight and increase by small amounts.  You can also be a Trail Angel; more than once I have filled up the canteens of hikers who misjudged their water needs.

3. Use trekking poles.  For a long time I thought trekking poles were lame.  That all changed when I started packing really heavy.  Poles help reduce knee strain and have saved me from terrific falls many times.

4. Variety is key.  When training over the course of many months, it is easy to get disheartened and bored.  Do many different activities to keep your spirits up and mind fresh.

5. Utilize rest and recovery.  Remember, you build muscle during recovery, not activity.  Find the right number of days a week you need for rest and recovery and stick to them.  Occasionally take longer breaks off to go on a trip and mentally recover. Fuel yourself with healthy, nutritious food.

6. Dial your system.  Use training days to test gear and figure out your systems, allowing you to hit the mountain ready to climb.

7. Find a partner.  If you can’t train with your climbing partner, find someone else who will motivate you to work out with.

8. Take a few training runs up other mountains.  Meet with your partners to check each other out while having fun.  Practice skills and make sure everyone is up to date, fresh and has good group chemistry.

9. Take skills training if needed.  Some skills are better learned from instructors.  Avalanche avoidance/rescue and glacier travel and crevasse rescue fall under that heading.  Make sure you have the skills to rescue yourself and others, regardless if you are using a guide service.

If you have any big mountain training or Denali training tips specifically, share them with us in the comments. [Denali photo by bdearth/flickr]

Who: Dave, Andy from Sierra Descents, Zach, Sara and Molly the dog

What: Backcountry spring skiing

Where: Tioga Pass Road, the Eastern Gateway to Yosemite National Park

Gear: Deuter Guide 45 Pack, Black Diamond crampons and ice axe, Sol Sunscreen, Mammut Gobi Hat and so much more……..

Caltrans doesn’t take a big liking to skiers I don’t think, but when fishing season is due to open, you can rest assured that means most of the roads on the Eastern Sierra are going to try and open. And luck just has it that every year, the fishing opener coincides with some of the best spring skiing the country has to offer. Yup, right in our own backyard, the Eastern Sierra is a spring skiing mecca, and when the roads open up to 9,000 ft+, you can’t really go wrong.

View of False White from the parking area on Hwy 120

Being a horrible snow year in this part of the Sierra, we were quickly turned around from a lower route on Mt. Koip due to miles of hiking that would have had to be done on dirt, and instead opted for the snow start and end. We parked at the intersection of Saddlebag Lake Rd and Hwy 120 both days. False White is a pretty easy and straightforward 2.5–3 hour climb from this parking area. Saturday was super warm with almost no wind, so we opted to explore a bit as the regular descent (southeast face) was a bit mushy already. Instead, we headed to this notch we spotted that would drop us on the north side into the Skeleton Lakes Basin.

The shoulder on False White by which we accessed the North Bowls

This proved to be a great choice as the skiing stayed wintery over there and gave us an extra long tour to get out. We were still off the snow by 2pm as the warming was getting extreme and the snow was turning quickly. Our views and ideas just as quickly turned to Sunday and the idea to bag one of the couloirs on Mt. Conness.

For Sunday, Andy from Sierra Descents and Sara (Zach’s wife) met up with us for what was sure to be an epic. I had never traveled in the winter back to Saddlebag Lake and Conness in particular so I was extremely excited to see this new terrain and ski some of the best stuff we could find.  We started at 6:30am to ensure the midday heat would not be as much of a problem as it was on Saturday and headed out towards Saddlebag Lake. Once rounding Saddlebag, getting overtaken by some super fast and crazy backcountry Nordic skiers (see this photo album), we pushed on to the Conness Glacier and eventually the Y-couloirs on another route to the ridge.

The Conness Basin as seen once rounding Saddlebag Lake

It took about 4ish hours to reach the base of the Y-Couloirs and based on the look of them and the possible bergshrunds that we could see in the shorter, Summit Couloirs, we decided this was the way to go. Crampons and axes out, we headed up. Andy lead the first half and then I took over for the second on some pretty steep and exposed terrain; we sure were happy to have those crampons on. After about an hour in the chute, we pulled up and over and were on the ridge with a view out into the rest of the Sierra that can’t be beat.

The snow in the chute was perfect, edgeable and carveable with even a little pow thrown in for fun. And then, the way out was just perfect soft, corn snow and we were able to kick and glide our way back to the car without donning skins again. This video from Andy at Sierra Descents pretty much sums it up. Can’t wait to get out there again!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAID0P7xft4

See the rest of the pictures from this Tioga Pass skiing trip on our Facebook Album.

Backcountry Skiing California’s Eastern Sierra
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Black Diamond Raven Ultra Ice Axe
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Sol Sunguard Faceguard Stick SPF 30
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The Tahoe Mountain Sports Adventure of the Week blog series takes a walk, hike, bike, or Eastern Sierra backcountry ski trip in someone else’s shoes, from pro athletes to local Tahoe adventurers. Let us know if you’ve got an adventure to share.

The Kanpai is a double-walled vacuum titanium bottle that takes the thermos to the next level for hot and cold drinks. The Vacuum double wall construction insulates extremely well to keep hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold. But what makes this BPA-free bottle really cool is the 3 lids it comes with; an insulated lid that’s water tight for packing, a drinking lid for sipping (not fully water-tight, so keep it upright) and a cooling lid.

The Kanpai is the perfect size to hold an 11 oz canned drink – from soda to beer – and this is where the cooling lid comes into play. The lid has a gel pack you freeze at home, then slide in your canned drink, screw on the cooling lid, and go – you’ll have an ice-cold refreshing beverage at the top of the peak or the end of the day!

So how do you win? Just head over to our Facebook page and tell us – or show us – what your favorite outdoor beverage is, and include an @ tag for Snow Peak’s Facebook Page. We’re thinking of photos of a drink with a view, a story of a thirst quenched, or a creative Haiku, but  we’ll consider any creative entry.

Our favorite will win the Kanpai bottle on May 11, so get your entries in and wow us with whatever you love to swill in the wilderness!

Ever since the Black Diamond Orbit Lantern hit TMS’s shelves, I had my eye on it. 4 compact inches, 45 lumens, a mere 3 ounces in weight… I had to have it. So buy it I did, right before a big camping/backpacking trip to Southern Utah. You can see the BD Orbit above in a photo I took of it in our tent set up down in Coyote Gulch, right by the impressive Jacob Hamblin arch, in Escalante Grand Staircase National Monument. This little lantern lived up to my expectations; here’s my Orbit lantern review:

FUNCTIONALITY/PERFORMANCE/AESTHETIC:

The Black Diamond Orbit Lantern provides ample light for reading, lounging and searching for items in your tent at night. It really makes your tent feel more like a little home with that perfect amount of ambient lighting. We also used it when car camping in Zion National Park for additional camp kitchen light and the BD Orbit worked great for this. Sometimes the laser beam of your headlamp isn’t exactly flattering to your food, so the Orbit provides enough light to see but not too much concentrated directly on your plate. Its dimming ability is really a bonus. You can take it from a mellow 10 lumens up to 45 lumens. Using its minimum setting, the Orbit can last for 24 hours on one set of batteries! The collapsible hooks make it ultra easy to affix to the top of your tent or a branch, and the dimming button and extendable nature of the lantern make it mighty despite its small stature.

The only issues I found were: 1) It’s hard to read lying on your back as the Obit shines down on you making it a little hard on your eyes. Headlamps are better for back-readers. 2) The collapsible hooks are easy to open, which is good and bad. Bad when you’re in an ultralight/small backpacking tent and don’t have much space to move and thus knock it off. A way to remedy this would be to use a small caribiner in addition to the collapsible hooks BUT then this would put the lantern even lower so you’ll have to do this on a case-by-case basis. We’d need a extra small caribiner for our tiny tent. 3) It’s not the best camp kitchen light for backpacking since it needs to be hung/elevated to provide the best use of the light. If you happen to camp under a good tree, then it’d work great. We never had a spot that it could work in, especially because it was caterpillar season for Utah’s cottonwoods. I’m sure there are some clever ways to elevate it. When car camping we perched it up on a few items on a picnic table, but when backpacking, there just wasn’t enough cook space to warrant using it. Plus, we were in the tent by dark anyways so there was really no need!

WEIGHT:

The Orbit’s weight is hard to beat. 3 ounces w/o batteries, so it’s barely noticeable in your pack. I will definitely bring this lantern on any future trips.

OFF THE SHELF:

Unlike Black Diamond Equipment headlamps, this little camp light doesn’t come equipped with batteries. So keep that in mind if you’re buying it on the go. Be sure to buy the four AAA batteries, or grab a Black Diamond rechargeable kit; the Orbit is compatible with the NRG2. Black Diamond Equipment does a great job with minimal packaging. Similar to buying an Apple product, you feel good with your purchase: very little packaging trash, easy to open (unlike those awful sealed plastic packages some brands use) and the lantern feels light and high quality in your hand.

PRICE:

At $29.95, it’s a bargain. This is a lantern that will last a lifetime so I highly recommend it for the price.

COMPANIONS:

Me and my camping partner brought along the Black Diamond Storm and Spot headlamps. The Storm is waterproof and a bit more burly, which was good to have in our packs since we were hiking miles through a stream.

If you have a Black Diamond Orbit Lantern review of your own, let us know in the comments.

Black Diamond Orbit LED Lantern
MSRP: $29.95
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Black Diamond Storm Headlamp
MSRP: $49.95
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Black Diamond Spot Headlamp
MSRP: $39.95
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WHO: Max Neale

WHAT: backpacking on the Lost Coast Trail

WHEN: March 6-8 2012

WHERE: Northern California coast

GEAR: MSR tent, waterproof jacket, plus gear to impress her like the Platypreserve to hold your finest wine and the luxury Nemo Fillo pillow

If backpacking trips were like dinner dates, the Lost Coast Trail would be a seaside French bistro. It doesn’t get much better than this: the logistics are simple, the terrain is mild, and the views are spectacular. Whether you’re looking for a romantic weekend outing, or a peaceful solo hike, the Lost Coast Trail could be one of the best coastal walks in the world.

Looking south from the Punta Gorda Lighthouse

The Lost Coast is a mostly undeveloped section of the California coast. It lies far up north, just south of Eureka. The terrain is mountainous and wet; this is the land of Redwoods and pristine aqua-blue rivers. Lost Coast can be done anytime, but summer has best weather and winter has the lowest tides (so you may be able to pass through some sections that would otherwise be impassible at high tide). The trail that bears the area’s name stretches roughly eighty miles from where Route 1 cuts inland, south of Garberville, to Fortuna where it rejoins 101. Though this whole stretch is walkable, most people do a 26-mile section (from the Mattole River to Shelter Cove) along the water. This is a rare slice of beachside wilderness. Sea otters and sea lions chatter as you walk along deserted beaches scattered with polished rocks and driftwood. Camp wherever you like: anywhere is a five star site.

Lost Coast Logistics

Park at the Mattole River Trailhead, where you self-register for free permits. “Mandatory” bear canisters are available at the Petrolia General Store (707-629-3455) for $5 plus deposit. Hike south for two nights, being mindful of several sections that can’t be passed at hightide, and hitchhike back from Shelter Cove or leave a car there. This Lost Coast map shows start and end points, particularly good campsites, and tide-related information.

The Tahoe Mountain Sports Adventure of the Week blog series takes a walk, hike, ski, Lost Coast Trail backpack in someone else’s shoes, from pro athletes to local Tahoe adventurers. Let us know if you’ve got an adventure to share.

Platypus Platypreserve
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The North Face Venture Rain Jacket
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Nemo Fillo Luxury Pillow
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WHO: Kevin, Ashley, Mollie and Shauna

WHAT: Rock climbing

WHERE: Smith Rock, OR

WHEN: March 2012

GEAR: Black Diamond Big Wall Harness, Black Diamond Primrose Harness, Terramar TMS logo shirt, Black Diamond Guide ATC, Black Diamond Qwire Quickdraws, Patagonia R1 fleece

How can a guy top off a week of skiing, eating, libations and laughter with three of his best friends? He goes climbing! And in Bend, Oregon, Smith Rock is where you head in the winter. I met with my friends Ashley, Mollie, and Shauna who live in this amazing Central Oregon town. We spent 2 days at Mt. Bachelor, toured Shevlin park by way of trail running, sampled lots of great beer, woke up late for coffee meetings at local spots in funky brick-lined alleyways, dressed up for neon-bowling, wined, dined, danced, and laughed ourselves to death. Did I mention that it was a spectacular week?

Ashley had asked me to bring some gear with me. Since she’s starting to rock the local indoor bouldering scene at Bend Rock Gym, she wants to begin tackling outdoor routes. Sweet! One more bag of gear to shuffle into the pickup. So on Sunday morning, Shauna, Ashley, and I headed about 25 miles northeast of Bend over to Smith Rock State Park to scope the scene.

From the parking lot, it’s a short, scenic walk across the river to the two most popular sections of rock: The Dihedrals and Morning Glory Wall. We had belay school for a bit, and then hit a fun easy climb: Five Gallon Buckets (5.8), which consists of a tafoni-pitted rock face. We then moved to a 5.9+ route just left of the Peanut, a spot between Morning Glory and Dihedrals. The name escapes me, but it was a great climb forcing you to use some jamming, stemming and some teeny, crimpy little holds. What I noticed most about Smith is how well developed this wonderful climbing location is. Belay pads have been built with rock retaining walls, and in some spots there are beefy wooden stairs leading up and down the pathways, or directly up the rock to a belay. I was extremely impressed with the work they’ve put in there!

In Bend, you could literally ski Bachelor all morning, then head to the rock in the afternoon and have less than an hour commute between the two. Additionally, most of the climbing at Smith Rock faces south, which means you’re taking in the sun the whole time. The scene here on a warm day is pretty busy. Smith is definitely a popular location, but worth going because of the mellow vibe and beautiful view. And there’s so much climbing, that even with the weekend crowd, we were able to find climbs without waiting. There are plenty of routes on both ends of the difficulty spectrum. From 5.7 to 5.12 and above. How can you beat this in the middle of winter?

The Tahoe Mountain Sports Adventure of the Week blog series takes a walk, hike, ski, climb in someone else’s shoes, from pro athletes to local Tahoe adventurers. Let us know if you’ve got an adventure to share.

Black Diamond ATC
MSRP: $16.95
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Black Diamond Quick Draws
MSRP: $17.95
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Terramar TMS Logo T-shirt
MSRP: $19.95
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Avalanche safety is forefront on our minds in Tahoe with this season’s uncharacteristically weak and shallow snowpack and friends’ lives lost and endangered. I was lucky to be one of the Squaw Valley Avalanche Education Fund’s 2012 scholarship recipients and get a full ride to an AIARE Level 1 avalanche course at Expedition Kirkwood last weekend. Here are the top 12 things I learned during the course, or at least the ones I wrote down. I learned so much!

I highly recommend getting AIARE certified, and I can’t speak highly enough about Expedition Kirkwood and our instructor Geoff Clarke. While you’ll notice my list has a lot of “don’ts,” Geoff was very positive about the sport and the inherent dangers. We ski because it’s fun to push the limits. His course was all about knowledge. Know when and where it’s ok to push it, then go for it. There are just certain aspects on certain days that you must be aware of. AIARE Level 1 is a great place to start. Kirkwood is a great mountain to do it at since it’s a Class A avalanche resort, with loads of terrain that your AIARE guide can tour you through so you can see avalanche-prone terrain first hand.

Some stats to get you thinking: 90% of avalanche accidents are attributed to human factors traps. 95% of skiers who’ve gotten caught knew there was avi danger that day.

1)   Here in California (Maritime climate, prone to more loose snow avalanches), many of us assume that trees are safe zones, but when you’re dealing with slab avalanche conditions (deeper snowpack instability more common in Inner Mountain and Continental climates), trees are not your friends. They instead can act as trigger points for a slab, and hazards if you get caught.

2)   That said, know the primary avalanches concerns for every day you ski backcountry, and act/plan accordingly. Don’t plan to ski a peak a week earlier and not have an alternate. Always scout out your safe zones/escape routes before you drop in.

3)   Watch for wind-loading. Wind can turn 1 foot of snowfall into 10 feet of wind deposit, creating hazardous conditions even when it hasn’t snowed recently. NOAA has remote mountaintop sensor data to show you peak conditions.

4)   30- to 40-degree slopes are the most prone to slide, with 38-degree slopes (equivalent to a resort’s double-black diamond in steepness) being the magic number. Above 40 degrees, slopes usually self regulate. Below 30 degrees you can still get in slow, wet slides or be poised in the run-out of a slide path or a concave terrain feature that can trap you.

5)   Beware of false senses of security: seeing tracks down a slope, a well-set skin track. Even though many people may have gone before you, it doesn’t equal safety. They may not have hit the slab’s trigger, or wind loading that day could create a dangerous zone above the skin track.

6)   Don’t ski like you’re in a resort: convex rolls and gullies are very unsafe in the backcountry.

7)   Keep your phone off or on airplane mode. Cell phones interfere with transceivers.

8)   See the avalanche path, not just the ski run. A wide-open run in the backcountry is often wide open for a reason. Look for flagging (the uphill side of trees with broken or missing branches) and snow deposits at tree bases, which indicate avalanche activity.

9)   Ask questions; communicate with everyone in your group. You need a leader, but never give anyone “a halo” of authority; trust your instincts and own knowledge.

10)  Learn to ski in all conditions—it all exists in the backcountry.

11)   Know your transceiver, and practice, practice, practice with it. Recalibrate your transceiver every 5 years, or buy a new one. Take the batteries out after each season to prevent corrosion, and insert new ones at the start of each season.

12)  Know when to say no. Turning around if needed and making other safe decisions that may not be as fun in your mind is just part of the backcountry experience. Mental discipline can save your life.

For more avalanche safety advice, stay tuned to the TMS blog. I plan to write a few more avalanche safety posts from my AIARE training, including what to do if you’re caught in an avalanche. I also want to plug a piece, “A Winter in Avalanche Country,” I wrote for Moonshine Ink’s April 2012 edition on backcountry and avalanche safety trends. We’re seeing more people in the backcountry, more gear sales, and more avalanche safety course enrollment in Tahoe. Interesting trends to follow…