OUT N BACK BLOG

Making the outdoors easy

Archive for April, 2010

Spring Mountain Hardwear Escalante Trip

Apr 30

Posted by OUTNBACKMAN in General Outdoor | No Comments

Four days of happy canyons! We went down to Escalante for the Mountain Hardwear sponsored demonstation. Met with the designers of tents, sleeping bags, and pack. We got cliniced on gear, used their packs, slept in their tents, and learned about sleeping bag insulations, shell materials, and construction. It was really tough but we survived.

During the days we got to abuse their gear in the canyons. All in a days hard work. Most of the Out N Back staff got the oportunity to attend and we  spent time in Egypt 1 canyon pacticing setting anchors, setting up rigging, and refining training on rappeling, down climbing, and safety. After that we advanced to Egypt 2 canyon and did the 300 ft. rappel off the face. Still takes my breath away going over the edge. The weather held and the worst thing we got was sun burn and scraped knees.

Hats off to the Mountain Hardwear crew for providing us the opportunity to learn about gear and have a wonderful experiance. If you make it to Escalante make sure you stop by “Excusions of Escalante” and at least say hi. If you want a guided canyon experiance they are the best. For dinner swing into “Escalante Outfitters” and get a calzone. Best dinner after a day playing! They also provide small cabins for rent or camp pads to pitch your tent. Showers and flushing toilets make roughing it obsolete.

 

Canyoneering Course with Excursions of Escalante

Apr 12

Posted by OUTNBACKMAN in General Outdoor | No Comments

Awww… the joys of spring! This past weekend I had the opportunity to take an ACA technical canyoneering training course with Rick Green of “Excursions of Escalante”. This is definitely one of those times when the phrase ” I wish I had your job” applies.

I got to play in the canyons of Escalante for 3 days with one of the greatest guides and instructors I have ever met. My knowledge and confidence in canyoneering skills was greatly boosted along with safety skills that will make all of my future trips that much more enjoyable for everyone involved. If you ever wanted to or thought about taking a course, this one ROCKS! Knots, anchors, lock-offs, weather, ratings, rigging, trip planning and safety were all covered and I never once thought that I was doing anything but having fun.

If you haven’t been to Escalante then you should, if you have then you should go again soon. If you want to just take a day trip with the best guide I know then call Amie at Excursions and have Rick take you on an unforgettable experience. At the very least you should stop into their cafe and have anything from a Latte to ice cream. Life is short, time passes too soon, so don’t waist it. GET OUT AND PLAY!

Buckskin Odyssey

Apr 12

Posted by Kelly in Camping, Canyons, General Outdoor, Hiking | No Comments

This past weekend a group of us from the shop headed down to Kanab with some buds to explore the famous Buckskin Gulch. We had heard a lot (I mean A LOT) of hype about the conditions in the slot for this time of year, and with the wet spring we’ve had in Utah we anticipated a very wet, very cold, overnight adventure. Well, as it turns out, BLM Rangers are not immune to exaggerating, though to their credit they erred on the side of caution. Happily, the weather was perfect the entire weekend. The most narrow sections of the canyon floor were muddy, but the deepest water we found barely reached hip height.

The one thing nobody overstates is the length of the hike. It is every inch as long as they say it is, and it will take you all day if you are carrying gear for camping overnight. Good conditioning is a must for this canyon, there is no way out but through. Pro tip: Neoprene socks and shoes that drain well are required to keep your feet happy in Buckskin Gulch, especially on Day Two as you trudge upstream in the Paria river.

So, why do people do this hike? The spectacular beauty of this canyon cannot be described in this space and the photos you find on the internet do not do it justice. You really do have to see it to appreciate it, especially the campsite just above the Paria river confluence. There are only a few places like this in the world, it’s like a waking dream.

If you really want to see photos from our trip come on down to Out N Back and beg Kory to post some. I know he took a few choice shots and if we all ask nice maybe he’ll share. He might even hook you up with a deal on some gear for your own adventure!

A different State a Different Hike

Apr 2

Posted by brittneylayton in General Outdoor, Hiking | No Comments

If you’ve ever been to Washington State then you know that most of the hike you are surrounded by the color green green and more green. I’m from the beautiful state of Washington and my most favorite hike that my dad and i would go on was called “Curtain Falls” This hike is my favorite because at the end there is this beautiful waterfall that the trail go’s behind. Hence why its called “Curtain Falls”. Now that i’ve given away the best part of this hike i might as well tell you all the other parts which make this hike the best.

At the beginning of this hike you wind around the trees with your eyes closed while your holding on to a rope. This part is called the blind test. You trust the rope to guide you through the trees so that you never go off the path and then it stops at a Y you can either go left to get to the falls faster or you can take the right which is the longer path. Of course my dad, my friend Lindsay and i go right. As your hiking up the mountain side you have millions of green trees on your left and a river on your right. Its such a beautiful combination the smells of the forest and the sounds of the running water. This hike isn’t extreme by any means its just an easy going pace to enjoy each others company and contemplate the certain things in our own lives that make us stress.

During our hike we found so many cool things. We found this cave that didn’t go back very far but It was fun to go inside and then realize the ceiling was really low by hitting our heads on the rocks. We also found a tree that had fallen down next to the path that went over the edge a little bit. Lindsay and i dared to sit on it and jump up and down. It was very thrilling knowing we could fall off at any second. We also found this huge rock wall that would have been fun to climb if we had the proper equipment so we went maybe a couple feet up and pretended we were free climbing. As we get to the falls we sit there for about an hour and play in the water and eat our lunch. It’s a fun hike that you should definitely look into if you ever go to Washington.

Its Warming Up, Do You Have Your Chacos Yet?

Apr 2

Posted by Ranae in Gear | No Comments

With the weather warming up, I decided it was time to rethink my summer footwear for 2010. I, being the Californian that I am, wear flip flops always. I am one of those people with the year around flip flop tan. But after realizing how flat the arches of my feet have become, it became apparent the average joe flip flops were not going to cut it again.

CHZX2UN2-BLKThis summer, I will be trading my signature flip flop tan lines for that of Chaco webbing. Last month I bought my first pair of Chacos. The ZX/2 Vibram Unaweep Wides, to be exact. What makes these sandals a better choice than my plethora of flip flops? Glad you asked!

All Chaco’s are designed with their BioCentric footbed. Chaco works with a certified pedorthist to create a fit that not only provides the wearer with a well supported comfortable fit, but also helps control pronation. But don’t take my word for it. The APMA (American Podiatric Medical Association, has also awarded Chaco sandals with their Seal of Acceptance.

These ZX/2s are also made with 360° Wrap-Fit adjustable straps. The webbing is completely connected through the sole of the shoe so the straps can be pulled to either tighten or loosen a fit. No two feet are exactly the same, and Chaco sees that. With this system, I get a fit that is just right for me.

I’ve worn my Chacos out a few times already and have been thoroughly impressed with the comfort and functionality of these shoes. The soles offer plenty of traction, and no toe scrunching needed to keep them on my feet. They’ve been great for the small amount of hiking I’ve already done. I just can’t wait for the weather to warm up and take my Chacos further!

If you’ve never tried on a pair before, come on in to Out N back and try them out for yourself. And if you are thinking of getting a pair, April is the perfect month to do so! For every pair of Chacos you buy in April, together with the Arbor Day Foundation, Chaco will plant a tree in our national forests. In addition, Out N Back will also donate to the cause. For every pair of Chacos bought at Out N Back during the month of April, two trees will be planted. It doesn’t get much sweeter than that!