SierraDescents | 2008
December 30, 2008
Big Agnes Two Track
In its two-inch version, the Big Agnes Two Track self-inflating sleeping pad offers a very warm advertised r-value of 6.5. To put that number in perspective, Thermarest's (more)
December 27, 2008
Baden-Powell
Bill and I drove up Highway 2 from Wrightwood to Vincent Gap for a little Baden-Powell action today. BP is one of those curious Southland Peaks that occasionally allows (more)
December 24, 2008
A Christmas Storm
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you! Looks like we'll be enjoying a white Christmas in the mountains this year. Heavy snows (18-36") are forecast in the High Sierra, plus (more)
November 16, 2008
Smoke at Sunrise
Here's a look at the sunrise from near our home this morning: that's a lot of smoke. The Yorba Linda/Anaheim area fires are about sixty miles east of us, which gives a sense of (more)
November 8, 2008
TNF Apex Bionic
North Face's Apex Bionic Jacket combines the best qualities of Windstopper™ fleece and a stretchy soft shell in one trim package. The Apex Bionic practically jumps out of the (more)
November 4, 2008
Marmot PreCip Jacket
Marmot calls the PreCip Jacket 'full-function value-added rainwear.' Given the PreCip's bargain price, the value is easy to see. As to the question of function, the PreCip is a (more)
October 31, 2008
Marmot PreCip Pant
Officially, Marmot's PreCip Pants are listed as rainwear, but that hasn't stopped them for becoming one of my favorite hard shell pants for all-around use. I wanted a lightweight (more)
October 16, 2008
Falling Headfirst Down an Ice Cliff
Blame it on Chamonix—exposure to the big mountains of the French Alps made a big impression on me. I bought a Charlet-Moser axe and crampons, intending to incorporate the (more)
October 10, 2008
North Face NSE Tent Bootie???
Really the big disadvantage with these is all the taunting you'll have to endure from your friends. If you can take it, however, the North Face's 700-fill down NSE Tent Bootie (more)
October 3, 2008
Down Bags: GoreTex vs. Microfiber
I got an email the other day from a Sierra mountaineer who was wondering what the pros and cons were of getting a down sleeping bag with a GoreTex Shell versus microfiber. (more)
September 19, 2008
What Lies Beneath
One of the things I didn't mention about my recent Pacific Crest Trail hike was that I froze my butt off at night. At first, I was convinced the problem was the sleeping bag I'd (more)
September 15, 2008
MSR Hyperflow
With its various parts and configurations, MSR's Hyperflow Microfilter weighs between roughly 7.6 and 9.9 ounces total. Go with the higher number—leaving parts at home (such as (more)
September 14, 2008
PCT: Onion Valley to Cottonwood Pass
Horseshoe Meadow, California — I take one last look inside my car, checking to be sure nothing will appeal to the bears, and then I lock the doors. It feels kind of spooky as (more)
September 5, 2008
God, I Love the Smell of HDPE in the Morning…
Among the more esoteric search topics that bring visitors to SierraDescents is the question of the scent of HDPE water bottles. Do HDPE water bottles really smell bad, people (more)
September 4, 2008
Jetboil PCS
Rarely does gear prove to be such a complete home run as Jetboil's Personal Cooking System (PCS) canister stove. The only conceivable knock on the Jetboil is its (more)
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