September 4-5, 2020 It’s the tallest mountain in Arizona. And it’s volcanic (No, not active!). Well, every mountain around Flagstaff is volcanic in origin. In fact, I think Flagstaff is home to all five different types of volcanoes. The area is peppered with hundreds of cinder cones, but Humphreys Peak dominates the horizon in an…
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My son and I decided to do a quick “bonding” trip and explore a new trail for us — Kendrick Peak Trail #22 — but we encountered all kinds of trouble, not the least of which was leaving some essential gear behind.
I’ll admit that I’m one of those geeks who often lays out my gear on the floor for pre-trip planning and organizing. As a visual person, it’s helpful for me to see everything and make sure I’m not forgetting anything.The Trip Tarp fulfills that need.
This summer I joined my son on a few days of his 50-miler trek up and over the San Francisco Peaks in Northern Arizona. Since I wasn’t able to join him for the whole trek, I was a little lazy in my packing and threw together a kit so I could get up the mountain…
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My son invited me to join him and his Boy Scout troop for a weekend camping trip in the Sonoran Desert. The plan was to car camp and then do a long 11-mile (18 km) day hike to cover segments of a few historic trails, including the Mormon Battalion Trail, the Butterfield Overland Stage Route,…
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My son and I have been daydreaming about hiking the Sunset Trail on Mount Elden for years, yet each spring, summer, and fall has passed by with not much more than wishful thinking. Well, we finally put action behind those dreams and planned out a simple 12-mile (19 km) overnight backpacking trip to make it happen.…
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Outdoor Products Skyline Pack Review I had a chance to review the Outdoor Products Skyline 8.0 pack recently and I wanted to share a few quick thoughts. Dimensions: 21x12x9 in 1,849 cu in (30 L) Measured Weight: 37 oz (1,053 g) MSRP: $60 Listed Features Internal frame pack with removable aluminum stay 2L Hydration Reservoir…
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It’s been two days and my legs are still sore. The bruise on my right big toe is still tender. After returning from a weekend backpacking trip with my Boy Scout troop, I was in pain. My neck and shoulders were stiff and sore. My lower back was tense. My knees were revolting. What had…
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