Portfolio

Kelty’s TraiLogic Collection Makes Gear Shopping Easy   Written for the Washington Trail Association blog   Visit the published article here   For backpacking beginners, purchasing the big items needed for a night in the wilderness —backpack, tent, sleeping bag, etc.—can be a daunting task. Kelty is trying to change that with the release of its new TraiLogic Collection, an integrated, three-season backpacking system that promises to make gear shopping as simple as grab-and-go. Does the system make good on its promise? We tested it—in rain and sun, on trail and in camp—to see. Here’s what we found. TraiLogic Pack The TraiLogic pack boasts 50L of space from both the 35L main compartment and a 15L detachable pocket—not the roomiest available, but...

What New Study Reveals About Youth and the Outdoors   Written for Washington Trails magazine   Visit the published article here   The Outdoor Foundation released its 2014 Outdoor Recreation Participation Topline Report in May. The report is the only detailed study of its kind tracking American participation trends in outdoor recreation and focuses on youth, young adults and the future of the outdoors. The data came from 19,240 online interviews carried out with a nationwide sample and uncovered some encouraging trends. Major takeaways include these positives: A record 142.6 million Americans participated in at least one outdoor activity in 2013—that’s 49.2% of the population. Collectively, people went on 12.1 billion outdoor outings. Outdoor...

“Lightning Bill” Moves From Goat Peak to Leecher Lookout   Written for Washington Trails magazine   Visit the published article here   OKANOGAN–WENATCHEE NATIONAL FOREST – Those hoping to catch a glimpse of U.S. Forest Service lookout legend “Lightning Bill” Austin will find him in a new spot this year. After a 19-year tenure at Goat Peak in Mazama, Austin has been reassigned to the Leecher Mountain Lookout southeast of Twisp. The move comes amid a shrinking Forest Service budget and shifting firefighting resources. Austin, who lives in Bridgeport when he’s not watching for forest fires, is the only full-time seasonal fire lookout remaining in the Methow Valley Ranger District. But that’s not his only claim to fame. During his time at the Goat Peak...

The Down and Dirty   Written for Washington Trails magazine   Visit the published article here   It’s an intoxicating thought: trade in an office for a forest, a suit for a hard hat, a computer for a shovel. If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to quit your day job and do trail maintenance for a living, you’re not alone. Dirt Work: An Education in the Woods tells the true story of Christine Byl. She forewent graduate school in favor of trail work and has since made a career out of 16 seasons spent building trails. Byl’s narrative begins before she ever holds her first Pulaski, back when she’s just a new college graduate who’s broke and looking for a life change. Moving from Michigan and an intellectual upbringing to Montana and manual...

Take Better Nighttime Photos   Written for the Washington Trails Association blog   Visit the published article here   Learn how to take better nighttime photos with this new photography guide from Mountaineers Books. Have you ever wondered how photographers capture those amazing nighttime shots of the moon, star trails and the Milky Way? Here’s your answer. Photography: Night Sky by Jennifer Wu and James Martin (Mountaineers Books) details the tips and techniques needed to photograph the night sky, including setup, exposure and the right amount of finishing touches to turn your nighttime photos into stunning spectacles of the cosmos. Although the book is aimed at those who are already familiar with DSL cameras and processing images on their...

Backpack Review: Pack Picks from Hydration to Trekking   Written for the Washington Trails Association blog   Visit the published article here   From hydration pack to day pack to ultralight and backpacking, WTA’s gear team field-tested and rated ten new packs: the Osprey Rev 12, Outdoor Research Levitator 16, Outdoor Products Amphibian 20, Osprey Stratos 34, Gregory Z40, REI Crestrail 48, Gregory J53, GoLite Quest 65, Granite Gear Nimbus Trace Access 70. Whether you are looking for a light pack to hold your water during a run, a daypack or a full-on backpacking pack, below are ten field-tested options that WTA has put through the ringer. DAYPACK: Outdoor Research Levitator 16 Outdoor Research created the Outdoor Research Levitator 16 for...