SierraDescents | Page 67
January 13, 2009
Mount Harwood — Northeast Ridge
My first official trip report of the winter season is a bittersweet one. In fairness it might be best to call this a climbing trip report, rather than skiing—though we did (more)
January 9, 2009
The Ski Pole Belay
Over the years I've learned a few tricks and tips that can make life a little easier in the backcountry. I've been doing some of these so long they seem obvious to me, but they (more)
January 5, 2009
Skiing Baldy Bowl
5:30 a.m. I'm up before the alarm clock and out of the house, hitting I-10 east to Mountain Avenue and Mount Baldy, the nearest of the SoCal summits. The plan is a no-frills (more)
January 2, 2009
Mountain Hardwear Typhoon
The Typhoon Jacket is yet another of those affordable ambiguously technical rain shells that are fast becoming today's bestsellers. Similar to the North Face Venture Jacket and (more)
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)
