JMT 2010 - Bed Time

JMT permit application day is coming up in just a few weeks.  I already mentioned the pack I'll be taking - the Gregory Palisade 80 - so thought I would keep sharing with the gear I'll be filling it with for the 4-week trek. Starting from the bottom of the pack, which I'll be stuffing in the bag compartment, will be the Therm-a-Rest ProLite Plus sleeping pad, and the Mountain Hardwear Phantom 32 down sleeping bag.

The Therm-a-Rest ProLite Plus (regular size) is a self-inflating 1.5" thick mattress that weighs in at a mere 24 ounces. The full-sized pad measures 20" wide by 72" long, yet rolled and compressed is just 5" x 11" - about the size of a liter water bottle. I have not used this pad in the field - this was a present from the Festivus Fairy - but am looking forward to breaking it in on several smaller backpacks before the JMT. Until now, I've been using Therm-a-Rest Trail Pro pad; this newer one comes in about a half-pound lighter, but the compressibility is the big feature.

After those long days of hiking - and ample time stargazing - I'll be snuggling into my Mountain Hardwear Phantom 32 down sleeping bag. This is also a recent acquisition, thanks to the latest sale at REI. For several years I've been using a Marmot Sawtooth +32 for my 3-season bag with no complaints. For the big trip though, I'm counting every ounce, and going as compact as possible. The MH bag (regular) weighs in with a super-lightweight 23 ounces, and - like the Therm-a-Rest  - compresses to about the size of a Nalgene bottle. The Phantom 32 features 800-fill goose down in a performance cut shape, and is treated with a DWR finish. The combination of these two items will allow me to stuff both the pad and the bag into the pack's bag compartment - with room to spare!

Both items are available at REI.com, and other outdoor retailers.

Photo of the Week #4

This last weekend gave all of us in the Northwest just the break from the rain we all wanted - a gorgeous sunny day!  I took advantage of the day to head out into the Columbia River Gorge for dual reasons - to take a nice afternoon hike, and to shoot some imagery for a piece I was working on for Washington Trails magazine.  This week's photo is a simple shot of the Columbia Gorge, looking westward, from atop Beacon Rock, on the Washington side of the river.  Beacon Rock is an 840' plug volcano, with a narrow trail of bridges and switchbacks that leads to the top offering fantastic views up and down the river.  For this particular photo, I employed onOne's PhotoTools kit to HDR-ize the image to spruce up its appearance and give alot more detail to the wonderful clouds in the sky that day.

Photo of the Week #3

Last week was so crazy, the POTW is coming a bit late. My longing for the nicer days of spring to get here have prompted me to go browsing thru some of my favorite photos from the Columbia River Gorge. This one in particular is of Lower Multnomah Falls, with Benson Bridge above, and the upper falls visible beyond. This was taken on a particularly nice day last spring, with sunlight dancing on the lush greenery, and the falls misting heavily. And being a weekend, it was crowded. I shot this with a 0.7 second exposure to get the veiled look in the falls.

Since there hasn't been much exploring or shooting lately, I've been doing some writing. I recently completed an article assignment for the Washington Trails magazine, highlighting hikes in Washington exhibiting unique geologic features. It should be appearing in the March/April issue. I also completed a small piece for Backpacker, highlighting some of the best hiking and backpacking in the Northwest. That piece should be appearing in the May issue.

The countdown for JMT continues. I've finalized my 29 day itinerary, and will be applying for my permit next month. Coming sooner, we'll be escaping the rain for a while and heading to Maui for some hiking in Hana and Haleakala - and probably a mai tai or two. Then a few weeks after it'll be down to Crater Lake Nat'l Park for some snowshoeing. More details - and photos! - to come...

Photo of the Week #2

This week's photo comes from one of my favorite trips last summer. Once again in Canada, we packed into the backcountry of Garibaldi Provincial Park, outside of Squamish for several days of exploring around the Elfin Lakes. At the lakes, a moderate 11km from the trailhead, is a backcountry shelter that offers hikers - and skiers and snowshoers in the winter - a cozy alternative to tent camping. The lower level of the shelter facilitates dining benches and cooking and washing areas, while the upper level provides over 30 bunks for weary hikers. Outside the shelter are several more picnic tables offering primo views of Mt. Garibaldi, Opal Cone, and the surrounding Canadian Coast Range. The shelter, or the nearby campground, make a perfect base camp for exploring farther into Garibaldi's backcountry; to the rim of volcanic Opal Cone, with dramatic up-close views of Mt. Garibaldi and the Garibaldi Ice Sheet, or to Mamquam Lake, a brilliant glacial lake below towering Pyramid Mtn. This particular image was captured on the last morning of our trip as we began the hike out. The hazy sky, from wildfires in the eastern high country, in combination with the early morning sun created a pastel-colored Mt. Garibaldi reflected in the mirror-like waters of Lower Elfin Lake. This image was selected as a finalist in BetterPhoto.com's November 2009 photo contest.

JMT 2010 - Big Pack for a Big Trip

As I start to gear up for the JMT this summer, I thought I would share some of the gear that I'm planning on taking for the 4-week hike. Some I've had for a while, some will be new and broken in this spring, as I've upgraded on some items to go for a lighter load. I might as well start with the pack that I'll be living out of for a month - the Gregory Palisade 80. This is a big pack*, with a load capacity of 88 liters, and 5,300+ cubic inches. It's a bit on the heavy side, weighing in at 6.5 lbs, but the pre-curved harness and adjustable hip belt design do much to help relieve that, plus all the other weight that gets crammed inside. It features a total of seven pockets, making for organized storage and quick access for a variety of items, including a water bottle pocket and internal bladder pouch. My favorite pocket is the large one on the back, where I can keep my cooking and first aid kits, water filter, lantern and rain gear - the items I want quick access to. And the small pockets on the hip belt are perfect for map, compass and snacks. The removable lid also doubles as a fanny pack, which I'll be taking advantage of for short side trips on layover days. I've had this pack for a year now, and broke it in on several trips last summer. It's extremely comfortable, and does wonders at displacing weight load. It easily stores a full-size bear can, and can contain all of my gear and clothing without having to lash items to the outside (though there are several tie-down options for this, including ice axe loops). I'm looking forward to this pack being my best friend this summer on the JMT.

Available at REI.com and MountainGear.com.

* Specs based on Large model.

Photo of the Week #1

For the new year, I've decided to start my own "photo of the week" posting, highlighting some of my favorite photos from travels past. For the first week of the new year, I'm posting one of my favorite photos from Whistler/Blackcomb ski area in B.C. - mostly because I'm going thru snowboarding withdrawals right now, having not even gotten my gear out of the basement yet this season. Anyways... I shot this photo in Feb. last year of my favorite area to ride, the Symphony Bowl on Whistler Mtn. You have to traverse several slopes and lifts to reach this area at the back of the mountain, but the scene and the ride - and the relatively small crowds that head back this far - are awesome! This particular chilly morning, we headed for Symphony as soon as the lifts opened. The sun was still low in the sky, casting long shadows and golden glows over the icy terrain, and silhouetting the upper portion of the Symphony chairlift, creating a striking scene. I slid off to the side of the run to catch a shot. Can't wait to get back on that hill! Click on the link for more images from the slopes of Whistler/Blackcomb.

Happy 2010! The Year for JMT!

Typically, with each new year come all kinds of resolutions that after a few months begin to wane, then by the middle of the year are completely forgotten. I'm just as guilty of this as anyone else. This year however, my resolution is set, and already in the works - hike the John Muir Trail! I've already mentioned in previous posts some preliminary plans, but now with the new year, it's getting kicked into high gear. I'll be spending the next 7 months conditioning, prepping, and gearing up for the big hike. The Festivus Elf was particularly kind in bringing me several new pieces of gear that I'm planning to use on the trip. Over the next many months, I'll be reviewing some of the gear I'll be using, sharing some of my trip plans, and counting down to the big kickoff.

In general photography news, during the coming winter months, I'll be continuing to get the site updated with images from the numerous trips from last year. Backpacker.com is getting more of my GPS tracks posted, and I'll be sharing those as well, and suggesting which ones are best hiked at what times. I'll also be prepping for the next season of GPS tracking for Backpacker, and looking at what will be coming this year. To start, I'll be hiking on the Hawaiian island of Maui in Feb., then will be heading down to Crater Lake in OR for some snowshoeing. As the spring thaw comes around, there will be plenty of dayhiking in OR and WA, as I continually look for new tracks and photogenic locations. I'll also soon be working on a couple of feature pieces for the Washington Trails Assn, and continuing to contribute when possible to Outside and Nat'l Geographic Adventure publications, as well as looking for new avenues of opportunity.

Hope everyone had a happy new year, and looking forward to a successful 2010!

Cheers ~ E