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# Off Yonder » Adventure Travel Stories

Seeing the world for what it is

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## Posts

- [Size-Shifting Bear Canisters](https://offyonder.com/2026/04/size-shifting-bear-canisters/) - Video review of The REI Traverse Modular Bear Canister and Bear Vault BV One—the only bear canisters which offer flexible sizing options making them more efficient for various trips.
- [Exit Glacier](https://offyonder.com/2008/09/exit-glacier/) - An impromptu hike up and overnight campout along Exit Glacier on the Seward Peninsula.
- [Around here... it's Rainier!](https://offyonder.com/2013/08/around-here-its-rainier/) - It was awesome to get back to the Great Pacific Northwest to climb Mt. Rainier again. This is my third summit of Rainier and it was a beautiful day on the top. My previous climbs have been as a private climber so this was my first time going with a guide outfit like RMI Expeditions.
- [Pole Out](https://offyonder.com/2006/01/pole-out/) - Returning to the vibrant land of color was a re-awaking process like I've never experienced before. It all started when I deplaned in Christchurch, New Zealand. I had stepped onto a massive C-17 Globemaster III military transport aircraft in the stillness of McMurdo Sound on the Antarctic coast and off it into a foreign world
- [Pole Position](https://offyonder.com/2005/12/pole-position/) - Life at the pole has become routine. From the outside, it might seem that being at the South Pole could be anything but routine. But when you live and work here... much less work nine hours a day and six days a week, it does eventually just become where you live and work. Granted, it
- [Buried Aircraft Found](https://offyonder.com/2005/12/buried-aircraft-found/) - The wreckage of Skier 917 has been found. To be fair, we knew all along where it was. After all, it was being used as a radar reflector for incoming aircraft landing at the South Pole snow air strip (NZSP). What hadn't been done (at least for some time) was digging down into the snow
- [Happy Camper School](https://offyonder.com/2005/12/happy-camper-school/) - It was our weekend of Antarctic car camping. An instructor came up from McMurdo to take a group of us "Polies" out into the Great White Nothing to go camping for a night. We started off with a classroom session on Friday night to get the basics on keeping warm, avoiding hypothermia and other 'winter'
- [Polar Thanksgiving](https://offyonder.com/2005/11/buried-antarctic-aircraft/) - Here at the Pole, we celebrated Thanksgiving on Saturday. And by celebrate, I mean we got the day off from work and consequently, our first two-day weekend of the season. To celebrate, we had a big turkey dinner on Saturday night. But I'm not writing to tell you how amazing the food was, how interesting
- [Pole Happenings](https://offyonder.com/2005/11/pole-happenings/) - Things are really swinging here at the Pole now. I've joined the South Pole Station Fire Brigade and we've had a few fire alarms, but no fires thank goodness. I'm working in the station greenhouse. And oh yes, there's still plenty of snow shoveling. But the shoveling has declined as other projects start to demand
- [Working at the South Pole](https://offyonder.com/2005/11/working-at-the-south-pole/) - I was told when I applied for the job that there would be a lot of snow shoveling, especially for the first month. There was really no way for me to totally understand what that meant. For the past week I have shoveled snow at least five hours a day. Most days it's been eight
- [Getting to the South Pole](https://offyonder.com/2005/10/getting-to-the-south-pole/) - Mine may well have been one of the fastest trips to the South Pole. Amundsen, who led the first party to reach the South Pole ever in 1911, took 15 months and 9 days from Norway via ship and dog sled. Byrd got to the South Pole by ship and by plane in 15 months
- [Spring Break Gear: Utah Desert Family Overlanding [Video]](https://offyonder.com/2025/05/spring-break-gear-utah-desert-family-overlanding-video/) - Here's our favorite gear selections from a week-long spring break family adventure overlanding in the Utah desert.
- [First Ever All Metal Skis](https://offyonder.com/2025/03/first-ever-all-metal-skis/) - It's the biggest advancement and innovation in ski manufacturing since metal edges and composite skis — all aluminium skis routed out from a solid block of 7000 series aluminium by ‪Metal1 Skis - m1skis.com. But how do they ski and will they be able to match or even improve the ski experience of modern composite
- [REVIEW: 4 Compact E-Cargo Bikes](https://offyonder.com/2026/02/review-4-compact-e-cargo-bikes/) - While the debate about some versions of e-bikes continue (ahem, MTB…), one category where the electric assist is mostly uncontested is for cargo bikes. Especially the long-tails which are mostly (around here, at least) used by families for hauling kids or groceries, but usually kids. Over the past few years our family has been testing
- [2020 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro: Road Trip Review](https://offyonder.com/2020/12/2020-toyota-tacoma-trd-pro-road-trip-review/) - Originally written for Autowise.com which has since closed. The 2020 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro is largely unchanged from the 2019 truck. This is generally a good thing—the Tacoma still dominates sales in the midsized U.S. truck market. I got my hands on this year’s truck and took it out for an adventure with my family to see
- [Review: Wilderness Toilet Kit by Pact Outdoors](https://offyonder.com/2025/10/review-wilderness-toilet-kit-by-pact-outdoors/) - After months of using this kit, it is absolutely the most convenient, easiest, and efficient way to manage pooping in the wild. It is extremely compact and simple to use and it’s pretty much the cleanest way to manage nature’s call for both the user and the environment. It goes on all of my trips
- [Review: Paka Apu Parka 2.0](https://offyonder.com/2025/01/review-paka-apu-parka-2-0/) - Take advantage of the thermal-regulation, anti-microbial, and compassionate harvesting effort of alpaca fleece in this backcountry oriented outdoor adventure parka.
- [Review: Bijou Build Backyard Play Structure](https://offyonder.com/2024/12/review-bijou-build-backyard-play-structure/) - I discovered Bijou Build at Outdoor Retailer this summer. The company was founded by Amada, a mom from Maine who did not like the large plastic play structures. She thought they looked obnoxious and the idea of looking in her back yard at all that plastic was disheartening. I get it. I'm not a fan
- [Review: Haven Hammock Tent [Video]](https://offyonder.com/2025/06/review-haven-hammock-tent-video/) - Ok gang... here's my go-to solo camping kit. It is by far my favorite and I believe the most comfortable way to sleep while camping. Full review story at GearJunkie.com. Get yours at haventents.com Photo Gallery
- [Small & Powerful - Insta360’s new GO 3S](https://offyonder.com/2024/06/small-powerful-insta360s-new-go-3s/) - In the world of action cameras, specifically for the ever sought POV style, Insta360 hit on a pretty perfect form factor with the GO series. And now, they have released the 3S with 4K video and a whole host of other incredible capabilities. The upgrade to 4K is pretty amazing. That doubles the resolution from
- [First Look: Soli Sunshade [video]](https://offyonder.com/2024/05/first-look-soli-sunshade-video/) - The Soli Sunshade is as simple and as effective as advertised. Check out the video review.
- [Video Review: Xtracycle Swoop 2nd Gen E-Cargo Bike](https://offyonder.com/2024/02/video-review-xtracycle-swoop-2nd-gen-e-cargo-bike/) - Our favorite e-cargo bike we've tested so far... but it carries a premium price tag. Check out the full video review for our nitty-gritty insights. Family of 4.
- [2021 GMC Yukon AT4 Review [Video]](https://offyonder.com/2021/04/2021-gmc-yukon-at4-review-video/) - Our Findings After a 1,500-Mile Family Winter Road Trip in The Yukon AT4
- [Review: Backcountry Access Stash Pro 32 Backcountry Backpack [video]](https://offyonder.com/2024/02/review-backcountry-access-stash-pro-32-backcountry-backpack-video/) - The new Stash Pro 32 backcountry ski touring or snowboarding backpack is my new go-to non-avy full-day pack.
- [Review: Chuck Rack Bike & Ski Carrier](https://offyonder.com/2023/10/review-chuck-rack-bike-ski-carrier/) - The Chuck Rack started as the Chuck Bucket. Charles McNall and James Linton wanted an easier way to get their skis off of their vehicle—basically, without having to reach up to the roof. They started with a Home Depot Bucket strapped to a hitch mounted bike rack and it took off from there. I did a
- [Family Rafting: Bighorn Sheep Canyon](https://offyonder.com/2021/07/family-rafting-bighorn-sheep-canyon/) - A half-day river rafting adventure for a father-daughter team through Bighorn Sheep Canyon of the Arkansas River of Colorado.
- [The Mighty Muddy Dusky](https://offyonder.com/2021/06/the-mighty-muddy-dusky/) - Ah, the Dusky. That, with a wistful look off into the infinite, seems to be a common reaction among those who have experienced the Dusky Track buried deep in Fiordland National Park on New Zealand's South Island. The floatplane touched down with only a gentle whoosh on the glassy, silky smooth surface of Supper Cove.
- [Old Monarch Pass Backcountry Skiing](https://offyonder.com/2009/12/backcountry-skiing-2/) - A backcountry ski outing with Adventure Unlimited!
- [Arctic Rafting](https://offyonder.com/2010/06/arctic-rafting/) - I came to the Arctic to experience ice lined rivers, wolves on the hunt, and to see if the mosquitoes were as bad as everyone predicted.
- [Kayak Fishing](https://offyonder.com/2010/07/kayak-fishing/) - After getting off the Kongakut, rest certainly was not an option! We're in Alaska for crying out loud! So, after the 6 hour drive from Fairbanks to Anchorage, we unpacked the car, re-packed the car, loaded kayaks, dropped off rented bear barrels at REI and started the 4 hour drive to Homer. With the summer
- [One Day Safari](https://offyonder.com/2007/09/one-day-safari/) - I arrived in Tanzania a day before our Kilimanjaro ascent and joined with Eric, a member of our party to explore Arusha National Park.
- [The Roof of Africa](https://offyonder.com/2007/09/the-roof-of-africa/) - Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest summit in the entire continent of Africa, is no more technical than putting your left foot in front of your right foot. The challenge is the altitude. At 5,895 meters (19,340 feet) above sea level the air is noticeably thin.
- [Sudwest Afrika](https://offyonder.com/2013/02/sudwest-afrika/) - This trip to Namibia in Africa was pretty incredible. It's a long haul to get down there but once there the long flights are quickly forgotten.
- [Space Acacia XL Tent Reveal](https://offyonder.com/2023/06/space-acacia-xl-tent-reveal/) - The Space Acacia XL Tent launched today and is basically a mini yurt. The tent is a hexagon with two short sides opposite each other for the two doors and four long sides for the walls. The 6-foot vertical walls and pyramidal top make this a standing-height tent and it has lots of windows for
- [Yuba Spicy Curry eCargo Bike](https://offyonder.com/2019/06/yuba-spicy-curry-ecargo-bike/) - This is a premium priced e-cargo bike with excellent components and mid-range load capability.
- [No Bears in BC](https://offyonder.com/2015/08/no-bears-in-bc/) - While I spent most of my teen years in the Pacific Northwest, my only real foray into British Columbia was up to Vancouver, Victoria, and Whistler a few times. This time, I got to go a little further north. About half way between Washington State and Alaska lies the beautiful Bella Coola Valley. It's at
- [Fickle Mountains](https://offyonder.com/2015/08/fickle-mountains/) - Not ten minutes into the trail and suddenly we were forced to retreat into our rain coats. Then, to further impede our progress, lightning flash and thunder strikes right over our heads pushed us to find some shelter amongst the sparse clumps of standing trees. In 2008, the human ignited Cascade fire ripped through here
- [Learn Like The Finns](https://offyonder.com/2016/03/learn-finns/) - Ever since my Study Abroad to Nepal with Principia College, I have always dreamed of being a Resident Counselor (RC) for one of these incredible trips. It blends some of my favorite aspects of travel together: education and adventure. The idea of going somewhere to learn about it always made perfect sense to me, especially
- [San Juan Spring Ski](https://offyonder.com/2016/05/san-juan-spring-ski/) - After missing one of Colorado's better ski seasons this winter, I returned from Finland to receive an invite to head to the SW corner of the state, where the snow is nearly always abundant, for a spring ski trip. It's a long drive, but it's usually totally worth it. With standard work schedules pushing our
- [Cascade Summit](https://offyonder.com/2016/08/cascade-summit/) - When I got the invite to go back to the Pacific Northwest and climb Mt. Baker, I was ecstatic. I've done a bit of mountaineering in the northern Cascades and have played on the slopes of Mt. Baker in the past but had never been to the top. The trip was with MSR to check
- [Sail to Ski Norway](https://offyonder.com/2018/04/sail-to-ski-norway/) - I haven't done much sailing lately, and to be honest, I wasn't at the helm or on the sheets much this trip. But it was still an incredible adventure to be a part of and to blend to things I really love. We boarded the boats in Alta—not the ski area in Utah—in the far
- [Frölisher Hut With Roo](https://offyonder.com/2020/02/frolisher-hut-with-roo/) - It was a little daunting to be packing the gear needed for my 6-year-old to spend a few nights at a backcountry hut in the winter. I have packed for myself for a trip like this many times and for myself, I can (relatively) easily make the decisions around where I’m willing to sacrifice comfort
- [Family Dunes](https://offyonder.com/2020/08/family-dunes/) - We managed to snag a campsite reservation at Great Sand Dunes National Park thanks to a last minute cancellation posted on one of the family camping FB Groups. With only a few days notice, we jumped into a flurry of activity to get pending work with deadlines wrapped up, kept the kids entertained and packed
- [My Guide Gear - Summer 2020](https://offyonder.com/2020/09/my-guide-gear-summer-2020/) - One of the opportunities I have to test gear is while guiding hiking tours in the National Parks. My trips are two weeks long and we hit five to six parks over about 2,000 miles of driving between them. We’re not backpacking, just hitting the trails for a few miles to get beyond looky-looing from
- [Pearl Lake Family Camping](https://offyonder.com/2020/09/pearl-lake-family-camping/) - A few years ago Jordan and I were invited to an event that took place at Pearl Lake State Park. It was a bit frostier then but the beauty of this location stayed with us and we finally booked ourselves a campsite to come back, this time with the kiddos. It's just north of Steamboat
- [2020 Toyota Land Cruiser Review on a Family Ski Trip](https://offyonder.com/2020/11/2020-toyota-land-cruiser-review-on-a-family-ski-trip/) - First released in 1951, the inspiration for creating the Toyota Land Cruiser reaches back to 1941 when the Imperial Japanese Army occupied the Philippines and found an abandoned US Military Willys Bantam Jeep. They sent it back to Japan and commissioned Toyota to make something similar. It was called the Toyota “Jeep” BJ and was
- [Gear for Multi-day Family Rafting](https://offyonder.com/2020/12/gear-for-multi-day-family-rafting/) - Below are links to all of the gear mentioned, and sometimes just seen, in the video. In most cases, the companies have sent us the items to check out and review, and only the stuff we like makes it on our trips and into our videos/reviews. Also, some of the links below include an affiliate
- [Desolation Canyon Multi-day Family Rafting](https://offyonder.com/2020/12/desolation-canyon-multi-day-family-rafting/) - Six days of crashing through waves, drifting on the flatwater, and camping on the beach. Two families with four kids aged three to seven find adventure bliss!
- [Gear: Family Skiing—Jan 2021](https://offyonder.com/2021/01/gear-family-skiing-jan2021/) - Anyone reading this already knows it takes a lot of gear to get a family, or even part of a family out skiing. And while each family needs to tailor their gear needs according to their circumstances, here are a few things Rosie and I have been using this year on most of our ski
- [Hills and Huts](https://offyonder.com/2006/01/hills-and-huts/) - The Routeburn Track on the South Island of New Zealand is designated as one of the "Great Walks" in New Zealand. That means beautiful terrain, awe-inspiring views and luxury (by camping and trekking standards) style accommodation. It also means it's guaranteed to be expensive and crowded. Ah well. It's ultimately worthwhile sharing earth's beauty. And
- [Plumbago Outback Expedition](https://offyonder.com/2006/02/plumbago-outback-expedition/) - It wasn't as hot as we had hoped it would be. The temperature didn't exceed 40°C which is strange for this part of the world this time of year. But that's not all: it also rained. It rained on us while camping in the desert where the average rainfall is a scant 230mm a year.
- [Castle Rock](https://offyonder.com/2006/01/castle-rock/) - Stepping off of the ski-equipped LC-130 Hercules aircraft at Williams Field on the Antarctic coast after the three hour flight from the Pole, the first thing I noticed was how the warmer snow felt under my feet. It was nearly 40 degrees below zero (conveniently that is where the Fahrenheit and Centigrade scales are equal)
- [Antarctic Questions from Mrs. Higdon's Preschool class](https://offyonder.com/2010/02/antarctic-questions-from-mrs-higdons-preschool-class/) - This morning I got to answer questions over Skype from Mrs.Higdon's Preschool class. Mrs. Higdon (Liz) and I went to college together and now she teaches in northern Indiana. The kids always have great questions and are so curious. These kids, because they live in a cold climate could understand some of the cold concepts
- [Peru Prep](https://offyonder.com/2009/06/peru-prep/) - Double checking when departing for a trip like Peru is key. I nearly walked out of the house without my Marmot rain jacket. That would have been a bummer up on the mountain. I'm sure I could have rented one, and since I'm renting plastic boots, crampons, an ice axe and a harness as it
- [Boats and Burgers](https://offyonder.com/2009/06/boats-and-burgers/) - Arriving at 1am on Friday in Lima was no deterrent from having a full weekend. After a nice sleep to 9am, Girogio’s father gave me a ride into the shop to see the boats he was building. Two 58-foot catamarans which have taken on a nearly finished shape sat side by side. One did not
- [Cañón del Colca](https://offyonder.com/2009/01/canon-del-colca/) - With nearly 24 hours of recovery after the Chachani climb, Forrest and I headed to the bus station in Arequipa at 6am to spend most of the morning on the bumpy and swervy roads to the small town of Cabanaconde on the lip of Colca Canyon. Once we arrived, we figured it was too late
- [Peruvian Peaks](https://offyonder.com/2009/06/peruvian-peaks/) - I took a deep breath of the thin 5,500m (18,000 ft) air, scanned the beautiful scene of jagged rocks, sparkling white snow and deep blue glacier ice around me and slowly became more comfortable in my thought that we would not reach the peak. This is always a hard decision for any climber to make
- [Fountain of Youth](https://offyonder.com/2009/06/fountain-of-youth/) - Sunday, was an early one as we were due to be at the Church at 7.30 to receive the nearly 30 people, mostly kids, joining us for a hike to a beautiful waterfall up in the Andes. This was the inaugural event for the Peruvian DiscoveryBound Chapter started by Giorgio and Brenda. I met with
- [Lares Trek](https://offyonder.com/2009/06/lares-trek/) - The Lares Trek was a short and sweet start to our adventure in the Peruvian Andes. It was just three days long and with the elevation only between 3,500-4,500m it gave us a nice gentle chance to acclimatize. We started with a three hour drive with a short stop in Calca to hit the market.
- [Swiss Adventure: Canyoning and Hiking and Swinging, Oh My!](https://offyonder.com/2012/10/2012-adventure-travel-world-summit/) - Every year the Adventure Travel Trade Association puts on a world summit in some beautiful adventure filled corner of the world. In October of 2012 the summit was held in Lucerne, Switzerland and I was invited to be part of the, dare I say, elite, Storytelling Team. This is a group of adventure photographers and
- [REVIEW: Eddie Bauer/First Ascent MicroTherm Down Hoodie](https://offyonder.com/2012/04/review-eddie-bauerfirst-ascent-microtherm-down-hoodie/) - I love this jacket. It has been my go-to piece since getting it and I suspect it will continue to serve well for those cool spring mornings and evenings as well as on camping trips into the mountains. As one reviewer on the Eddie Bauer website commented "Super light, at times don't even realize I'm
- [Into The Sandstone](https://offyonder.com/2012/10/into-the-sandstone/) - I love spontaneous trips. Doug, my editor at Elevation Outdoors Magazine, stopped by to borrow my LifeProof iPhone case because he was going canyoning in Utah for the next few days. He showed me some photos of where they were going: The Black Hole of White Canyon. My eyes opened wide. My jaw dropped. "That
- [Caribbean Sailing](https://offyonder.com/2009/04/caribbean-sailing/) - A pod of dolphins escorted us out as we sliced through the electric blue waters, departing Paradise Island near Nassau in The Bahamas. With 15 knots of wind, our jib was enough sail to pull us along through the small swells of water as we headed out to sea. The joy and thrill of embarking
- [Climbing Chachani](https://offyonder.com/2009/01/climbing-chachani/) - Climbing above 6,000 meters (nearly 20,000 feet) is nothing that should be taken lightly. Even if the actual vertical of the climb is just over 1,000 meters (3,500 feet). I arrived in Arequipa, Peru after three weeks of skiing up in the Colorado Rockies. I was camped at about 9,000 feet and would get up
- [The Inca City](https://offyonder.com/2009/06/the-inca-city/) - There are only two ways into Machu Picchu. By train and bus or by foot via the Inca Trail. We went with the former option and were on a 5.15am train from Ollantambo to the portal town of Aquas Calientes. If you’re taking the Inca Trail, there are a few options. Either way, you get
- [Ausangante Trek](https://offyonder.com/2009/07/ausangante-trek/) - Our main objective in the two days we were back in Cusco was to get ready for the Ausangate climb. This included getting plenty of rest and getting our gear together. I needed to rent plastic mountaineering boots, crampons, an ice axe, and a harness. Martin found Alfredo, a guide with Andean Destinations, who had
- [Peru's Challenge](https://offyonder.com/2012/06/perus-challenge/) - Voluntourism is an awkward word but what it means is incredible. It adds the idea of volunteering to the concept of tourism. It's a great way to add some substance to your travels. Beyond just visiting and seeing a place foreign to you, you now have a chance to get your hands dirty and contribute
- ["Pow Pow" for the Pow Pow](https://offyonder.com/2012/12/pow-pow-for-the-pow-pow/) - I am not a tough gal, however I married an adventurer, so I often find myself in harrowing situations where a certain amount of robustness is required. Needless to say the right gear can make a huge difference between me enjoying adventure rather than me just tolerating it. My husband Cameron often says, "there is
- [Canyon of Lodore](https://offyonder.com/2013/05/canyon-of-lodore/) - It's been too long since I've run a river in a nice oar raft. I met up with this crew in the classic way of joining the trip via an invite from a friend here in Boulder. Then the friend in Boulder couldn't make it. Undaunted, I stuck with the trip and ended up running
- [Feeling Chile](https://offyonder.com/2013/09/feeling-chile/) - I'm usually a very punctual person. And for that mater, I pride myself (and maybe overly so) on being a morning person. But when my Santiago hotel room phone rang to wake me at 4.30am I was surprised to hear my friend Antonio mention on the other end of the line that everybody was on
- [On The Steep](https://offyonder.com/2014/03/on-the-steep/) - UPDATE: My DSLR photos from this trip are now posted. I'm far from being an expert skier, despite skiing expert runs at ski areas. I'm at that point in my skiing where it takes a lot of time on the snow to see much in the way of improvement. Fortunately, I got to see, rather,
- [GoPro Mtn Games 2014](https://offyonder.com/2014/08/gopro-mtn-games-2014/) - I've been having a bunch of fun making Instagram videos of late. I would say "quick" Instagram videos, but I don't always turn them around as fast as I'd like. After the GoPro Mountain Games in Vail I had a bunch of footage after competing in three different events. We started the day paddling down
- [Santa Ski](https://offyonder.com/2014/12/santa-ski/) - From my latest assignment with Elevation Outdoors Magazine: Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night... Actually, snow was a big part of this. From the December 2014 Elevation Outdoors Print Edition: It’s no secret: Folks in Crested Butted like to dress up in costumes. And CB local Shaun Matusewicz felt there was
- [Day Tour: Guinn Mountain Hut](https://offyonder.com/2015/01/first-tour-of-2015/) - This was my second time to ski up this way. The first time was in November when Peter, JP, and I were getting our November ski in to continue our ski-every-month challenge. Back then, though we had just had a good dumping of snow, there was no base and if we didn't have rock skies
- [A Blast on the Beach](https://offyonder.com/2015/04/a-blast-on-the-beach/) - I'm not much of a beach person. Sure, I beach bummed it a bit in San Diego before moving to Colorado, but I was never passionate about the beach. But Bermuda was different. Instead of just lounging around we had a lot of fun exploring the island in some creative and fun ways. When we
- [Backcountry Ski Hut](https://offyonder.com/2012/04/backcountry-ski-hut/) - Like || Tweet || More Photos || Purchase Photo As a last push to find some measure of winter (defined by me as including skiable snow, not just being cold out), Jordan and I pushed out to the new Opus Hut tucked in the southern end of the San Juan Mountains. We had invited a number of other folks, but by the virtue that we scheduled our trip mid week, most of the working world wasn’t able to comply. So Jordan and I set out on this trip on our own. This was her first ski hut trip (though, she did get herself up to Gray Knob a few years ago) and she said it pushed her a bit more than she would have liked.
- [Sub-Arctic 112 Mile Ski Tour](https://offyonder.com/2011/04/sub-arctic-112-mile-ski-tour/) - There may be a tinge of familiarity to this trip. In 2009, Nathaniel and I visited the White Mountains of Alaska and had an amazing trip. But in the midst of pounding out over 100 miles in 7 days (specifically, after our 23 mile day over Cache Mountain Divide) we were staying the night at the scenic Windy Gap Cabin and thought to ourselves, we need to build in some rest days next time. Well, this is the next time and we did. By the end of the trip we had covered 112 miles in 10 days, with two rest days. We also added another member to the team, Joe Connolly. Mouse over any image for the caption. Click on any image to go to the gallery for more photos. Subscribe (email | RSS) to the gallery to see when I add more photos from this trip. Also, stay tuned for the video! Like || Tweet || More Photos || Purchase Photo
- [Hiking the Grand](https://offyonder.com/2011/11/hiking-the-grand/) - Like || Tweet || More Photos || Purchase PhotoIt doesn't matter how you access the Grand Canyon, so long as you actually get down into it. Sure, the views are impressive from the rim looking down into and along the big red gash in the earth, but it's too big to fathom just from above. By boat or by foot, you've got to get into it. Matt, Agnes and I, planned on a four day backpacking trip descending from the North Rim along the Bill Hall Trail and into Deer Creek Canyon for the first night. Well, technically our first night out was car camping on the North Rim which offered the aforementioned amazing though limited view from above. The morning sun crept down along the walls, displacing the dark pooled in the canyon as we packed up our car camp and got on the rocky trail taking us down.
- [100 Mile White Mountain Ski Tour](https://offyonder.com/2009/03/100-mile-mountain-ski-tour/) - Like || Tweet || More Photos || Purchase PhotoAlthough the calendar said it was the end of winter and the start of spring, Alaska clearly wasn't paying attention. Nathaniel and I got a later than expected start (which we will find will actually become our norm) and we had to ski through a windy and dark -40F to make it to our first cabin. We only dared stop for mere moments to sip hot tea from a thermos (our water bottles, though insulated, had frozen solid) and split a large chocolate muffin. Yes, it was wicked cold at times and the wind was often howling, but it was beautiful. The photos (see more by clicking on this photo) and the video will never do that beautiful landscape justice (click "Full Story" below or the title above to see the video). But, come have a look and make this journey with us as best as we can share it.
- [Review: TrekSta Men's Evolution Trail Shoe](https://offyonder.com/2010/08/review-treksta-mens-evolution-trail-shoe/) - The TrekSta Evolution is a really great all-round shoe. Putting them on and experiencing the NestFIT insole for the first time was a unique experience. The textured insole felt odd at first, but once my foot was in the shoe and settled the tri-density footbed and well-researched last wrapped around my foot and felt very secure.
- [Review: OR Lateral Dry Bags](https://offyonder.com/2010/09/review-or-lateral-dry-bags/) - Lateral access to my gear was a phenomenal convenience on my recent 15-day river trip in the Arctic. The biggest concern anyone has regarding the functionality of a dry bag is “does it keep my gear dry?”. In short, yes. Granted, I never tipped my boat to have it mauled by massive rapids as a potential test. But everything I put in those bags for days on the river stayed totally dry – guarding against full over-the-bow waves and a few squalls of rain.
- [Review: OR DryComp Ridge Sack](https://offyonder.com/2010/10/review-or-drycomp-ridge-sack/) - Most river trips are not limited to just being on the river. Sure, on some trips there is plenty of time to make the transition from being on the river to exploring the land along the river. But sometimes you want to hit the ground running right as you’re pulling your boat onto the shore. For both of these scenarios OR’s DryComp Ridge Sack fits the bill. I have a nice little Mammut backpack that I love and use for the majority of my terrestrial trips. For it to come on my river trips it needs to be stored in a dry bag taking up valuable waterproof room. Enter the DryComp Ridge Sack.
- [Review: CamelBak Stoaway](https://offyonder.com/2011/03/review-camelbak-stoaway/) - Like || Tweet || More Photos || Purchase PhotoHydration is a key part of any adventure. When bladders with hoses first started to come out, I was skeptical and held out for a while, perfectly content with my Nalgene bottles which nested nicely in the nook above my hip between me and my Gregory Pack. I could drink on the go, no problem. Or so I thought.
- [Review: Kokatat Meridian Dry Suit](https://offyonder.com/2010/10/review-kokatat-meridian-dry-suit/) - Photo: Nathaniel WilderAfter wearing a Kokatat Dry Suit for 15 days in the Arctic, it’s no wonder why Kokatat is the leader in the paddlesports attire field. This suit performed superbly, as expected: it kept me dry and warm, it was easy to put on and take off, and it was plenty comfortable. A group of friends and I embarked on a 15-day journey down the Kongakut River in the far northeastern corner of Alaska from the Brooks Mountains to the Arctic Ocean in packrafts and inflatable kayaks. Granted, we didn’t hit much (if any, really) whitewater. At most we paddled through a very mild Class III. So, the risk of getting totally immersed in the water was slim – though, it did happen to 3 of the 4 packrafters. Ironically not to the one wearing a full dry suit (me)! The others on the trip were wearing various combinations of dry bottoms, dry tops and neoprene. As long as they stayed in their boat, they remained plenty dry, save their feet. Another score for the dry suit with booties: dry feet snuggled in toasty wool Teko socks for the whole trip.
- [Review: Gregory Packs](https://offyonder.com/2009/06/gregory-packs/) - Like || Tweet || More Photos || Purchase PhotoI got this Gregory backpack for Christmas in 1991. It has been my steady companion for 18 years, hundreds of miles, thousands upon thousands of vertical feet and through more baggage claim turnstyles than I can count. It has been taking it all and is ready for more. Sure, the color has faded some after years of exposure to the sun and weather and at one point a few years ago, I must have ripped the bottom of it somewhat. So I took it to REI where they took care of shipping it back to Gregory for me to get that rip repaired and what I got back made me a great fan of Gregory’s customer service department. Not only did they patch the rip, but they meticulously searched over every square inch of the pack and added a few stitches here and sewed up a bit there in spots that were starting to fray and show wear.
- [Old Lift Line](https://offyonder.com/2013/04/old-lift-line/) - Hitting up the old Hidden Valley Ski area in Rocky Mountain National Park just outside of Estes Park, Colorado for some fresh tracks. Also, testing Eddie Bauer's new Propellant jacket with Polartec's new Alpha insulation which worked great. Click through to the full story for the video.
- [T-34a Mentor Flight](https://offyonder.com/2009/03/t-34a-mentor-flight/) - Like || Tweet || More Photos || Purchase PhotoSo, Dad flies with a group called San Diego Salute, which is a group of guys with T-34a Mentors who hire themselves out for air shows, flybys and scenic flights of the area. I've had the opportunity to fly with them twice now. The first time I took some video, but mostly shot stills as the light was quite good. The second trip, the overcast sky made shooting stills less inspirational, but I had learned from my poor video footage to put a smarter piece together. So, the link below (or above - click the # above the image) is of stills from the first flight, and the video below is from the second flight. If you want to know more about hiring this crew to do a flyby for you check them out at http://www.sandiegosalute.org/.
- [Weekend: Music & Planes](https://offyonder.com/2009/10/weekend-music-planes/) - Like || Tweet || More Photos || Purchase PhotoAlex Cook is out here on his West Coast CD release tour with a box of 300 "Tree of Life" CD's. I made it to his show in Encinitas where the producer of the album, Jason Froese joined him to play bass. Andrew set up two video cameras to record the whole thing and I snapped a few stills, see below. The music is awesome and should be available to all via iTunes and the such soon. If you want to see Alex live yourself, check out his tour schedule at http://myspace.com/alexcookmusic. If your area isn't on there, drop him a line and have him come out your way! The next day, Dad and I headed to the Miramar Air Show. I've been to a few air shows, including this one years ago. But this was the best way to do an airshow: be on the Air Crew for a static display aircraft. Dad helped Pamala bring her T-34a Mentor over on Thursday and it's one of the planes on display for folks to check out. As Air Crew, we got passes to the Air Crew Chalet, a little section of the flight line roped off where they provided us with meals, snacks, drinks and a place to sit and watch the air show in the sky. Dad and I got in early to get good parking in the special Static Display Crew Lot and really enjoyed the day. After the Blue Angles did their thing, we had to hand tow the T-34a past the public access area to the active ramp. Dad fired up the Mentor and flew it back to Gillespie while I drove the car over to pick him up. Select photos of the air show also below and on my Facebook Page and in my gallery.
- [River Geology](https://offyonder.com/2005/08/river-geology/) - Like || Tweet || More Photos || Purchase PhotoMy Uncle Eddie has been rafting for many, many years. I remember when I was young, doing 15 miles down the Santiam River (san-tee-AM), a tributary of the Willamette River in Western Oregon with him and a bunch of our family. Well, since then, I've started joining him on more trips and have been helping him guide trips.
- [Swiss Adventure: Bungee Jump (fall)](https://offyonder.com/2012/10/swiss-adventure-bungee-jump-fall/) - Like || Tweet || More Photos || Purchase PhotoIt wasn't possible for all of the 600 delegates attending the Adventure Travel World Summit to participate in one of the many Pre-Summit Adventures like the one I shared in my last post. So, the first day of the summit is actually a "Day of Adventure" before filling the halls of the conference center for all the various sessions. I was assigned to document the Bungee Jump. Or, as I indicate in the title, it was more of fall, or teeter. At the base of Mt. Titlis near the town of Engelberg south of Lucerne in Switzerland, we boarded a large rectangular cable car or gondola with a hole in the middle. I found out in a little video clip that I did (see below) that I was with a bunch of rookies. Nobody on this trip had ever been bungee jumping before. And, to complete the rookie-ness, I had never been either. The closest thing I've done like bungee jumping was the Canyon Swing just the day before as seen in the last video. Since we were "jumping" from a gondola, they asked us to just teeter forward and pivot over our feet to fall, not to jump and push the gondola away causing it to swing. Check out the full story for the video!
- [The mORning Show - 2012 ORSM](https://offyonder.com/2012/08/the-morning-show-2012-orsm/) - Ever wanting to try something new, I joined a team of friends to put together a consumer facing webcast at the Outdoor Retailer Show this summer. The result was a video for nearly each day of the Outdoor Retailer show where we interviewed movers and shakers in the outdoor business and checked out some of the latest gear yet to hit the shelves. The team included Doug Schnitzpahn as the host, Mike Geraci as producer and yours truly as video editor and gear guy. Huge thanks to our sponsor, Columbia Sportswear, making the whole thing possible. Hopefully we'll be back at Winter OR for another round. We streamed the videos live via Ustream each morning and archived them on YouTube. Click "Full Story" below to see the videos.
- [Post Fire Kayaking - Soot Water](https://offyonder.com/2012/08/post-fire-kayaking-soot-water/) - Kayak and outdoor enthusiast Christoper Wiegend and I hit the Poudre River in a tandem Jackson Kayak. After the big fire of July 2012 a big rain storm hit. Hopes were the water would be running high and fast but it's the lowest Chris has ever run. The video below was filmed on an iPhone 4 in a LifeProof case and a helmet mounted GoPro camera. Click below for video.
- [Review: Crispi XP Telemark Boots](https://offyonder.com/2011/01/review-crispi-xp-telemark-boots/) - Like || Tweet || More Photos || Purchase PhotoAfter trying various Garmont and Scarpa tele boots I found Crispi, an Italian brand that fits my feet perfectly: wide and high volume. I ordered the XP's as they were described to have the broadest versatility, especially for a relatively new telemark skier. Medium weight to help punch through any crud snow and plenty stiff for tight response. These boots have served me well in all conditions from crusey groomers to earning turns in the backcountry. Most importantly they are very comfortable and my feet are totally secure in them. My heel stays in place and I've never had any issues of rubbing, blistering or cramping. I skied on them for a full season before I baked the thermal liners. After molding the liners to my feet I found a whole new level of comfort and control. The boots are also plenty warm which is very important when on a backcountry lunch break between climbs and runs sitting around in the snow. I have yet to take these boots on a multi-day tour to see what it's like to put them on after sitting out overnight in the cold, but hopefully that will come soon. The Crispi XP's soft rubber Skywalk sole grips the snow well when walking around on compact snow and the duckbill is strong and stiff enough to punch enough of a lip to step on when booting it up sections too steep to make it worth while to skin up. My few concerns stem from how easily the tongue under each of the upper buckles sometimes mesh the wrong way. I usually catch this when it becomes ridiculously difficult to lock the buckle down and after catching this the first time I know to keep an eye out for this. Also, the power strap is way too long. It makes me wonder how fat of a leg it can accommodate. Maybe it's that long to work as a shoulder strap when strapping the boots together to carry them, but I'm not sure as I have a boot bag for them. Another little annoyance is having to flip up the D-ring where the leash attaches. I don't really have a well thought out solution in mind, but if the D-ring could somehow stick out some and not just rest right up against the boot, it would make it easier to attach the ski leash. Continue reading: click "Full Story" below.
- [Slot Canyons](https://offyonder.com/2012/05/slot-canyons/) - Like || Tweet || More Photos || Purchase PhotoHidden in the southeast corner of Utah down the long Hole-in-the-Rock road lies a series of canyons – tributaries to the Escalante River. Thirteen miles down Coyote Gulch takes you through a series of environmental shifts. Starting on the dry, hot and barren plateau, the trail quickly descends into a dry wash. Trees start to appear providing some nice shade and suddenly the ground is wet and water starts flowing. Sandstone cliffs begin to tower above you, shafts of sunlight stream past the rim and the riparian zone bursts into lush foliage. Tents are optional as camp can be made under the sandstone overhangs carved out by centuries of passing water. But there is little need for concern with regular sunny days and scant rainfall. Though flash floods are possible so keep an eye on the upstream weather. Click "Full Story" for more photos.
- [Patagonia CEO & President Casey Sheahan Talks Business, Conservation & Compassion](https://offyonder.com/2012/02/patagonia-ceo-president-casey-sheahan-talks-business-conservation-compassion/) - Patagonia doesn’t need any help with marketing their products. In fact, the ad they placed in the New York Times on Black Friday last year said “Don’t Buy This Jacket”. Don’t be fooled, they still want you to buy their product, but only when you really need it. What does that mean? This marketing conundrum and a number of other insightful ideas on how this company operates were shared by CEO & President Casey Sheahan at the Business of Outdoor Recreation Lecture Series presented by the Outdoor Industry Association and the Leeds School of Business at the Stadium Club on the University of Colorado campus in Boulder.
- [Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2012 Videos](https://offyonder.com/2012/01/outdoor-retailer-winter-market-2012-videos/) - After putting some videos together at the Summer OR show in 2011 on a whim, Elevation Outdoors Magazine was able to pick up a sponsorship from Verde PR & Consulting to make them happen for the Winter Market OR show. A huge thanks to Verde and here are the videos, each posted by the end of the day each day of the show. Click "Full Story" below or the title above to view the videos.
- [Review: Vasque Rift Approach Shoe](https://offyonder.com/2011/12/review-vasque-rift-shoe/) - Spring climbing calls for an approach shoe that is comfortable and light. The Vasque Rift comes in bold and subtle color options to suit every personality. This multisport shoe sports the ultra sticky Vibram Spider outsole with Idrogrip Compound reaching from above the toe all the way back and up the heal to stab those tricky approach routes. Soft and comfortable, wearing the Rift is like wearing tough slippers. Soft laces tie easily and stay tied. After hitting a few trails in them, my feet are always happy with the experience and I'm never itching to get these shoes off.
- [GEAR: DryCase - Waterproof your iPhone](https://offyonder.com/2011/09/gear-drycase-waterproof-your-iphone/) - The vacuum seal tells all. Drop your mobile phone into this clear plastic case, pump (or suck) the air out and you’re good to go. By virtue of the vacuum holding, you know your kit is protected. And with a waterproof headphone jack, you can still get your tunes or make a call. The DryCASE allows for full touch screen functionality and comes with a buoyant armband, lanyard and hand pump. This is a great solution for occasional waterproof protection when you know you’re going to be in a wet or dirty environment, but not practical for everyday use. It’s easy to get your device in and out of the case and has an arm-band for more active and pocket-less activities. In fact, it probably won’t fit in your pocket if you had one. The DryCASE will also do well just sitting in the sand next to your lounge chair or beach towel and you won’t have to worry about anyone kicking sand or standing above it with a dripping swim suit.
- [REVIEW: LifeProof - Waterproof iPhone Case](https://offyonder.com/2011/10/review-lifeproof-iphone-case-2/) - This water/dirt/snow/shock-proof case is designed to go on your phone and stay there. For the protection it offers, the slim design makes it practical to leave this case on your phone for full time protection, not just when you want to get out in the elements. As the instructions suggested, I first tested the case empty as the waterproofness is not intuitively apparent. But once that past the test I inserted my phone and haven’t taken it out since. Until something that does everything this LifeProof case does and resolves some of the issues I mention below, this will continue to be how I protect my iPhone.
- [GEAR: Ibex Zepher Wind Boxer Brief](https://offyonder.com/2011/11/gear-ibex-zepher-wind-boxer-brief/) - Some of the best skiing is when the weather is the worst. That's when the powder is falling, the wind is blowing and the temperature takes a dive. Be it at a resort or in the backcountry, bluebird days bring out the masses and foul weather keeps the slopes clear for those willing to brave the elements. Ibex has stepped up the game and it may just add a few more folks, maybe you, to the slopes when the weather is being obnoxious. With a poly microdenier windstop front added to the already toasty and super soft 18.5 micron Zepher fabric, these boxer briefs will help you take on the most brutal of windy onslaughts and keep the vitals warm and cozy no matter what you're doing out there. Keep toasty, my friends.
- [Five-Fingers Snowshoe](https://offyonder.com/2011/02/five-fingers-snowshoe/) - A little trek into the mountains up to Harvard Lakes (click the title for more photos): Like || Tweet || More Photos || Purchase Photo
- [STS-133: Discovery's Last Launch](https://offyonder.com/2011/02/sts-133-discoverys-last-launch/) - Like || Tweet || More Photos || Purchase PhotoIt's been a childhood dream to see a Space Shuttle launch and only with the threat of the program ending have I put a concerted effort towards actually getting there to see it. Last fall I spent a week on the Space Coast in Florida waiting for STS-133, the Shuttle Discovery to fly it's last mission. Each day they delayed the launch until finally I couldn't afford to spend more time in Florida and they scrubbed the launch for at least a few weeks. After months of going over the leaky fuel tank and related components the launch was scheduled again for 24 Feb 2011 and I was there, again. As I suspected, after having so much time to get ready for the launch, Discovery was ready to go and lifted off without a hitch, much less any major holds in the countdown sequence. At the range of about 7 miles on the 5th floor of a condo complex where some friends have a unit I got to see, hear and feel the excitement of witnessing humans breaking away from the grasp of gravity into space. It is awe inspiring. STS-133 carried a storage module to the International Space Station as well as a new and permeant crew member: Robonaut 2. Click below for more photos.
- [Maroon Bells Cycling Adventure](https://offyonder.com/2011/06/maroon-bells-cycling-adventure/) - Like || Tweet || More Photos || Purchase PhotoIf you're into cycling, Aspen is the place to be. We were under the care of the Little Nell Adventure Center in Aspen and they outfitted our merry band of bicyclists with top of the line Orbea and Colnago carbon frame bikes which were nothing but a pleasure to ride. Pro rider Scott Kasin led us up the 10 mile 4-5% grade climb. Remember that Aspen, where we started already sits at 7,900 feet and we climbed nearly 1,600 feet to 9,500 feet. Just short of the top, I passed a guy and asked him how he was doing and his reply was "Just trying to keep up with Lance!" I chuckled and replied "Aren't we all!" Thinking he was speaking in cycling generalities. But low and behold, I pulled up to Scott chatting with a group of cyclists in the shade, and one of them was wearing a black jersey with a yellow LIVESTRONG stripe across his chest.
- [Opening Day at Breckenridge](https://offyonder.com/2011/11/opening-day-at-breckenridge/) - Attending a ski resort's opening day is not for those looking to avoid crowds. It's about being a part of history in the making, meeting new friends and sharing in the passions. This year was particularly poignant with Breckenridge Ski Resort kicking off it's 50th year on the auspicious date of 11/11/11. As you stepped off the gondola, the first 1,111 guests received a breakfast cupcake with the Breck logo in the icing. Once you picked up a coffee or something to wash that cupcake down with, it was time to get in line for the Colorado Super Chair, the first to open. Folks had started to line up as early as 8am waiting an hour for the first lift up.
- [Arctic Rafting: Returned](https://offyonder.com/2010/07/arctic-rafting-live/) - After 15 days on the Kongakut river, we've returned to Anchorage via Kaktovik and Fairbanks. We nearly got stranded on Icy Reef on the shore of the Arctic Ocean as a big storm was moving in, but we managed to squeak out and make it home. Below are some photos and a satellite map of the area with the river route and some of our camps marked. >>More photos
- [REVIEW: Marmot Zion Softshell Jacket](https://offyonder.com/2011/08/review-marmot-zion-softshell-jacket/) - This is a technical jacket. The core specifications – Polartec’s new NeoShell fabric, taped seams, storm hood – are impressive. But most importantly it performs well. As with anything new, it’s a little stiff when you first put it on, but that concern quickly fades away as the totally bomber nature of the Zion is realized. While you’re still standing in the store trying it on, you are transported to icy crags and powder days. This is a winter jacket. The insulative nature of the soft shell is such that during any sporty activity you will want to be in the near freezing/sub-freezing temperatures. The NeoShell fabric is totally windproof. I was impressed when bombing down ski slopes, dead into the wind, and though I felt the pressure of the wind against my body, the cold never seeped through. The hood, with the jacket zipped all the way up, stayed on my head keeping my forehead warm – something I noticed as a concern earlier in the season before I had the Zion. Even in the wind, this jacket is quiet. While taking a phone call on my iPhone ear-buds, using the iPod port, the microphone tucked inside the jacket didn’t pick up any of the wind or rustling outside. The caller was impressed to know I was on a windy mountain slope and claimed it sounded as if I was inside somewhere.
- [GEAR: Portable Power - Solar Charging on the trail](https://offyonder.com/2011/08/gear-portable-power-solar-charging-on-the-trail/) - Like || Tweet || More Photos || Purchase PhotoBack in 1999, I traveled to Nepal to study mountain ecology in the Himalaya. Part of our trip was a 14-day trek in the Annapurna region. Digital cameras were far from popular then, but somehow I managed to get one loaned to me. Since this was the era before proprietary rechargeable batteries the camera took a whopping four AA's. Not knowing how fast the camera would use up the batteries and not wanting to cary a bag of AA's along with me, I looked into rechargeable batteries and a solar charger. Looking back at where the technology was then, I'm amazed that I found a solar charger that held 4 AA batteries. So, I brought 8 batteries - 4 for in the camera and 4 to get charged in the charger that I strapped on the top of my pack to absorb the sun while we were trekking. No shortage of sunshine and the system worked great. For a number of reasons, one being that there haven't been many electronic items that people would need to charge on the trail, the idea of harnessing solar power while on the go hasn't come about until fairly recently. While at the 2011 Summer Outdoor Retailer show in Salt Lake City, it's obvious that with all the little electronic gadgets made to go on our adventures with us (cameras, GPS, iPods, lights, etc.) saving weight on batteries (not to mention the waste) has driven a number of companies to invest in providing portable solar charging options. It should also be noted these devices are not recommended for use with something as large as a laptop, but exceptions and alternatives may exist. Here's what I found:
- [Review: CamelBak Antidote Hydration](https://offyonder.com/2011/11/review-camelbak-antidote-hydration/) - I am totally impressed with CamelBak’s new Antidote hydration bladder. I’ve been though a few rough times with bags of water and their various shortcomings and even very soggy disasters. Sometimes, we tolerate some inconveniences to make something else more convenient. The Antidote eliminates the troubles from hydration bladders of the past and makes it easy to make drinking convenient. Click through to read about the features I love:
- [Review: G3 Targa Telemark Bindings](https://offyonder.com/2011/01/review-g3-targa-telemark-bindings/) - To be fair, these are really the only kind of Tele bindings I've ever used. In a way, that's a good thing as I've not been driven to replace them.
- [Atlas Trans-Sierra Snowshoe Trek](https://offyonder.com/2005/04/atlas-trans-sierra-snowshoe-trek/) - Like || Tweet || More Photos || Purchase PhotoThe Sierra has truly been blessed this year with record snow fall. So, although the weather this spring and early summer has been warm, there is still plenty of snow in the beautiful backcountry. With that in mind, some colleagues at Atlas Snow-Shoe Company came up with the wild idea to do a traditional skiing route across the Sierra-Nevada mountain range on snowshoes. While this was admittedly for our own personal fun, we could justify it as a work trip to test the snowshoes. The result was a 45 mile trek across the breadth of the Sierra. We started just east of Independence, off Highway 395, and hiked up Symmes Creek. After 12,000 feet of vertical gain and traveling and camping for six days above 11,000 feet, we arrived at the Wolverton Ski Area in Sequoia National Park. The route is usually done on skis with a few mountaineering sections to get over the highest passes, including Milestone Col on the Great Western Divide at over 13,000 feet.
- [Ellingwood Ridge Challenge](https://offyonder.com/2010/10/ellingwood-ridge-challenge/) - Like || Tweet || More Photos || Purchase Photo I had the pleasure of guiding a trip in the Colorado Rockies with Mark James for the Adventure Unlimited Ranches. We took a group of intrepid adults from A/U's Adult Base Camp (ABC) program to La Plata where the plan was to traverse Ellingwood Ridge. The five of us (two guides and three adult campers) camped at the base of the western ridge. The next morning we made it up the western ridge to the 14,334-foot summit where a batch of my mom's home made oatmeal chocolate chip cookies were delivered. That was a treat. Once rested at the summit one camper opted to turn back and was accompanied by Mark while the rest of us started our descent along Ellingwood Ridge. This is not a trail and is a technical route. About an hour into the traverse we realized the best idea was to turn back to the summit instead of continuing on along the ridge all the way down as planned.
- [Sunny Snowy Ridge Finale](https://offyonder.com/2006/10/sunny-snowy-ridge-finale/) - Like || Tweet || More Photos || Purchase PhotoI just wrapped my two months at Gray Knob cabin and I'm already looking forward to returning for another stint in the White Mountains (if the RMC will have me). I hope to experience each of the seasons in their entirety although I suspect autumn will always reign supreme in my view. I almost didn't come down before this last stint. When I woke on the morning of my day off, thick clouds surrounded the cabin and I thought nothing of it as I recorded the weather and suited up to head down. Just as I started on the trail a gap formed in the clouds revealing a glowing golden morning sun and blue skies scrubbed by a just-passed storm. Pink and purple halo hues lined the edges of the clouds and reflected in the soft fresh snow. I paused and debated returning to the cabin to get my camera but continued on, expecting it was just a sucker hole and the clouds would reclaim the view by the time I climbed back up. But it persisted. I stopped again but thought if I turned around I wouldn't get out that day. Mike and Bill were scheduled to fill in and I opted to not rattle the plan.
- [NOLS Pro & Deuter Packs Trip](https://offyonder.com/2011/09/nols-pro-deuter-packs-trip/) - Like || Tweet || More Photos || Purchase PhotoIf you have been on a NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) trip of any sort, you know the value it provides participants with technical outdoors skills as well as the "Expedition Behavior" skills to not only get along with the members of your group but to make the trip, or expedition a resounding success. NOLS has been offering their "Pro" (short for Professional) program for a few years but are ready to ramp it up. NOLS Pro will set up a course for any professional team looking to build group dynamics, leadership, risk management and/or outdoor skills anywhere you like. Our group was lead by two NOLS Pro instructors, Marcio Paes Barreto and Brian Fabel, who took us into the Wind River Range in Wyoming for a few days and they shared the NOLS Pro program with us. Another component included Deuter Packs as NOLS uses Deuter Packs as their robust pack rental fleet. Built to suit the rugged nature of NOLS trips, these packs are out in the field a lot and get many lifetimes of use as compared to how often a privately owned backpack gets out into the field. Click the title above for more photos.
- [Snow Storm](https://offyonder.com/2006/10/snow-storm/) - This website may be the death of me. After seven or eight days of thick fog, stormy winds and continuous snowfall, restlessness was starting to set in and I realized I hardly had any photos or tales of new adventures to post for this, my second to last Gray Knob update. The environment around the
- [Adams 4 Bivy, King Ravine & Rime Ice](https://offyonder.com/2006/09/adams-4-bivy-king-ravine-rime-ice/) - Like || Tweet || More Photos || Purchase PhotoNo burnt bottoms! That is, for my second round of baking muffins up at Gray Knob cabin. It was a simple fix, really. I just moved the baking rack one notch higher. It was an amazing long stint up at the cabin - nine days! My fresh veggies nearly lasted the whole time, and I saved the best for last, a nice piece of butternut squash. I baked it up in my stove-top oven and shared it with "Ben Here" - an Appalachian Trail (AT) through hiker who spent the previous blustery night in a small cave up on the ridge just below Adams 4. Ben came into Grey Knob cabin at around 8am. I don't usually get folks arriving at that time and after asking him how he's doing, he admitted he'd had a rough night. AT hikers usually adopt trail nick-names of some sort. Either they're given to them or they come up with them on their own. 'Ben' may well be his real first name, but it developed as he signed the shelter log books simply with the date and "Ben Here."
- [Wine & Spirits - Beaver Creek](https://offyonder.com/2011/08/wine-spirits-bc/) - Like || Tweet || More Photos || Purchase PhotoDon't let the lack of snow fool you. Beaver Creek is not just for winter fun. The mountains are beautiful all year around. You may find it curious that as a teetotaler I attended the Wine & Spirits festival, but I wanted to see if even I, without a drop of alcohol, would enjoy it. I did, but how? Check out the full story to hear about walking around the green summer ski slopes, eating gourmet food, watching others sample and discuss the nuance of tannins and other wine talk all in the first day! Then we ride the chair lift, go for a jeep ride, play disc golf and finish it all at the Walk Around tasting which seemed to me to have more gourmet food than wine & spirits! Also, there are two videos, one for each day in Beaver Creek. Check it out!
- [Rafting the Roaring Fork](https://offyonder.com/2011/06/rafting-the-roaring-fork/) - All that snow had to go somewhere, and one of those somewheres is the Roaring Fork River. Talbot and Michael of Blazing Adventures took our merry crew on a great ride. Normally scheduled for 2 hours, we were done in an hour and a half because the river was so full and the water moving so fast. Although the river was swollen and brown with all the surrounding hillsides running off with the snowmelt from a record snow year, our guides had already run the river a number of times, without clients, to be sure the course was safe. At fist, I contemplated accepting the wetsuit they provide, but I'm glad I did. As one of our guides mentioned, "the water in the river today was snow yesterday" and there was plenty of splashing, especially since I ended up in the front of the boat. But I did manage to sit on the same side as our guide, which meant a slightly dryer ride than what Bob got on the opposite side, as you'll see in the video. Click the title above, or the "full story" link below to see the video. Enjoy.
- [Kayaking & Stand Up Paddleboarding](https://offyonder.com/2011/06/kayak-sup/) - Like || Tweet || More Photos || Purchase PhotoWhen the snows melt from the slopes and roads in Aspen and turns into water an opportunity to play is created in the rivers. Our adventurous group met up with Charlie MacArthur the founder and owner of the Aspen Kayak and SUP (stand up paddleboarding) Academy. We didn’t realize it at the time, though he had that humble air about him, Charlie is a bit of a legend. With years of waterbound experience under his belt, he had a calm, gentle though jovial approach to helping the many of us who had never been kayaking before or for those of us who haven’t been in a long while. Click the title or "Full Story" below to read more and to see the video and photos.
- [Expedition Impossible Celebrates In Boulder](https://offyonder.com/2011/08/expedition-impossible-celebrates-in-boulder/) - Like || Tweet || More Photos || Purchase PhotoTeam No Limits from Boulder hosted a huge party at the Lazy Dog Bar & Grill on Thursday night to watch the final episode of ABC's Expedition Impossible TV competition show. No Limits was one of four teams to make it to the final episode as teams were eliminated over the previous few weeks. Also in attendance were The Gypsies the winners of the show. Over 600 people purchased tickets to attend the event at The Lazy Dog and the proceeds, along with the silent auction, private donations and a percentage of beer sales, went to the two charities of choice, No Barriers USA and Free the Children.
- [RMC Centennial Reunion](https://offyonder.com/2010/08/rmc-centennial-reunion/) - Back in the fall of 2006 I enjoyed a beautiful season as the caretaker for a cabin in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. This weekend, I'm back in the small mountain town of Randolph to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Randolph Mountain Club (RMC) with many of the great people who have also served as caretakers as well as those who have worked on the trail crew. On Saturday morning Al (who hired me to be the caretaker) and I hiked up to Crag Camp where we sat in the mountain sunshine and chatted with a few folks who stayed up there that night. We then hiked over to Gray Knob Cabin where I lived for two months. The large logbook on the table only had a dozen blank pages left and was the one I had started while working there. It was fun to read the entry I wrote about the first substantial snowfall that season on the first page. I wrote a little note to document this visit and headed back down. That evening over 150 people gathered for dinner (I made a pot of chili to contribute), dessert, RMC trivia, and photos of previous caretakers and trail crews from each decade represented. We even did a photo of RMC Antarcticans as it seems this little club sends quite a few folks down to the ice. Below are some of the photos I took as a caretaker in the White Mountains. Photos of the reunion are most likely to be found on the RMC website. Click on any image to see more photos or to buy a print. Click on "Full Story" below or the title above for a quick look at a few more images.
- [Outdoor Retailer Show - Summer 2011](https://offyonder.com/2011/08/outdoor-retailer-show-summer-2011/) - I'm in Salt Lake City for the next few days checking out the latest and greatest of outdoor recreation gear that will be hitting the markets in the very near future. The show started at Jordanelle Park where participants could try out many of the new paddleboards, kayaks and the various accessories that go along with them from sails to clothing to booties and more. Next, we head to the Salt Palace convention center in downtown SLC where hundreds of outdoor brands have set up shop to display their goods. I'm tweeting about what I find as I go at @offyonder and below are the videos I'm producing for Elevation Outdoors magazine each day. I'll also be doing a recap writup for Snowshoe Magazine. Click on the title of the post, above, to check out the videos.
- [Arapahoe Lake Ski](https://offyonder.com/2011/05/arapahoe-lake-ski/) - A quick day trip with Bob to get into some fresh powder near Boulder, Colorado.
- [Floating the Continental Divide](https://offyonder.com/2009/05/floating-the-continental-divide/) - Like || Tweet || More Photos || Purchase PhotoIt was late afternoon when we motored from Shelter Bay Marina to the staging area in Bahia de Limon to await our pilot and extra line-handler. The past two days was a much needed rest after having just sailed over 1,700 miles from the Bahamas, around the western point of Cuba and due south across the Caribbean Sea. It wasn’t a lazy, sit by the pool with a frufy drink kind of rest. Rather it was a change from the ten days of being at sea where a constant watch is kept to ensure there is still wind in the sails, the course is maintained, the crew is rested and fed and collisions of any sort (with other vessels, drift wood, large containers or even land) are avoided.
- [Mt. Washington Traverse](https://offyonder.com/2006/09/mt-washington-traverse/) - Like || Tweet || More Photos || Purchase PhotoMy second week was a short one... only five days as that's how the sub schedule worked out. It really was too short. It looks like my next stint will be upwards to 7 or 8 days on the mountain. Perfect. I hiked back up with 40 pounds of gear under clear blue skies and a light rustling of leaves from the gentle breeze stirring the mountain air. In my pack was the rest of my personal equipment, mostly winter clothing as I prepare for the temperatures to drop. But about ten pounds of it was fresh vegetables and fruits to sustain me. I've never been a big fan of the freeze dried backpacking meals, and they're crazy expensive. I think I fed myself for the week spending about Twenty Dollars.
- [Mountain Life](https://offyonder.com/2006/09/mountain-life/) - Like || Tweet || More Photos || Purchase PhotoThe tranquility of the mountains cannot be matched. After my first week of living in the White Mountains of New Hampshire at Gray Knob Cabin, I've totally fallen in love with the simple life away from the hustle and bustle of more populated areas of the world. To get off the power grid and only have to worry about how not to burn the bottoms of my blueberry muffins puts things all into perspective. On clear days I make my way up to the rocky peaks above me and on stormy days I bundle up in my rain gear and go for walks in the driving rain and under the flashes of lightning and the cracks of thunder that echo off the surrounding slopes.
- [Narragansett Fog](https://offyonder.com/2007/06/narragansett-fog/) - We sailed overnight, a full day and overnight again, not quite totally without incident. We found what looked like a nice abandoned pier around 90th Street to tie on to and wait out the ferocious ebb tide before trying to motor our way through Hells Gate. This is essentially where the North River (the Hudson), the East River and Long Island Sound all come together. It's a narrow passage where a lot of water flows at speeds up to five knots with the tide. Shawn and I were below on his 27-foot Bristol sail boat just chatting it up when we heard what sounded like a bilge pump engaging automatically. We didn't have an automatic bilge pump. After cocking our heads at each other trying to sort it out, we popped our heads out of the companionway only to see we were being boarded by the Coast Guard. It turns out we're not allowed to tie up on this unmarked pier and we ended up with a citation - a boat parking ticket - before our trip began. The really interesting part was the NYPD floated up shortly afterwards (while Shawn was up the mast in the rigging clearing a line) and couldn't believe we got a citation. The cops gave us some floating key chains and their condolences.
- [Snowshoeing by Moonlight](https://offyonder.com/2011/01/snowshoeing-by-moonlight/) - Like || Tweet || More Photos || Purchase PhotoThe warm glow of mulled wine and spicy hot coco was a coveted memory when the doors to the car opened and an icy blast of wind blew through. A near full moon lit up the snow-covered world around us. The stars that could shine through the moonbeams, like those in Orion, sparkled above as we hunched over, backs to the wind, to strap on our snowshoes. Once we got out of the exposed parking lot and onto the Brainerd Lake Trail in the trees, the wind was heard whistling in the upper branches and hardly felt. The gentle slope was just enough to warm the seven of us up from the initial shock of stepping out of our warm cars.
- [Rafting the Grand](https://offyonder.com/2006/05/rafting-the-grand/) - Like || Tweet || More Photos || Purchase PhotoHow ironic that the pinnacle of whitewater rafting experiences is found over a mile deep into the earth. As the Colorado River flows through the Grand Canyon, numerous side canyons and rock falls have deposited piles and piles of rocks and boulders to create some of the most notorious whitewater in the northern hemisphere. Because the constraining canyon walls rise thousands of feet above the river, it has no way to go around these impedances. It has no option but to go over these obstacles in a churning, violent, frothy flow. And once we're in the canyon, we have no option but to navigate our way through these unyielding currents in our little rafts. As one of the earliest river runners of the Colorado in 1869 described it, the water snagged a boat and "whirled it around quick enough to take the kinks out of a ram's horn."
- [Review: K2 Work Stinx Telemark Skis (2006)](https://offyonder.com/2011/02/review-k2-work-stinx-telemark-skis/) - Like the rest of my ski equipment, I've had these skis for about four years now. Though, they've really only seen two solid seasons of skiing, mostly in Colorado, though they have skied in California, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington and even Illinois! This is a great all-mountain ski. K2 has been making skis since 1961 and they make a quality product, these skis being no different. They are a little heavy, by design, to punch through any crud and avoid chattering on groomers while going fast. They are fat enough to float nicely in deep powder and turning on them is always a pleasure. The only problem I've had with them have related to keeping climbing skins on them and K2 would argue I'm using the wrong skins. They have the hole at the tip for clip in skins, but I use a pair of Black Diamond skins with the D-ring that goes over the tip. Only once has the D-ring worked it's way off the tip and a little adjustment has fixed it fine since. This ski takes to edge extremely well and once on edge it arcs into a beautiful turn be it in powder, on groomers or going through the bumps. Icy slopes and super hard snow is never easy to edge into and undoubtedly my skill set could be improved to better manage those conditions even though I've wanted to blame the skis for the chattering and scraping along. I've skied a few other skis since being on the Work Stinx and I'm always happy to come back to them.
- [Trekking & Guiding in Appalachia](https://offyonder.com/2003/09/trekking-guiding-in-appalachia/) - Thirteen miles makes for a pretty good day hike for a group of 13-14 year olds. Add on a full pack laden with sleeping bags, tents, stoves, pots, food and other gear, five peaks over 4,000 feet, a 3,000 foot descent, a 5.30 am get-up, and a lightning and thunder storm the night before, and
- [Volcano High](https://offyonder.com/2003/09/volcano-high/) - After 4,000 feet of vertical gain, cresting over the crater rim of Mount St. Helens was way beyond my greatest expectations. This trip was all very spontaneous. I had finished a great trip up Mount Whitney (from the west side, the only way to go) and was driving to Seattle when I intercepted some friends
- [24-Hours of Adrenaline](https://offyonder.com/2002/09/24-hours-of-adrenaline/) - It was a mountain bike race like no other. Twenty-four hours of non-stop racing. The excitement kicked in immediately when I arrived. The rugged and technical eight-mile course was set in the hills and the varied terrain around Conyers, Georgia. The large sleek black trailer sporting the event logo and the many colorful tents of
- [Traipsing the White Mountains](https://offyonder.com/2003/07/traipsing-the-white-mountains/) - The Zealand-Bond range is one of the most spectacular routes in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The Presidentals offer great views of vast valleys, but something about being on the top of Mount Guyot, or out on the remote summit of West Bond instills a wonderful sense of intimacy with the mountains. Starting from
- [Review: Teko Socks](https://offyonder.com/2009/07/review-teko-socks/) - I never thought I'd really be able to discern much difference between brands of socks, but I've been using Teko socks exclusively for my more ambitious outdoor adventures and they do not disappoint. I have a number of different pairs, various thicknesses to suit the weather or the kind of boot I'm wearing. On my
- [Final Touches: Kongakut River](https://offyonder.com/2010/06/final-touches-kongakut-river/) - The trip is on. I departed PDX at 9.30pm in the dark and chased the sun down by flying north and arrived in Anchorage around midnight where, though it was overcast, it was still dusk out. Nathaniel Wilder with Sune and Lindsay Tamm picked me up and we stayed up until 2.30am catching up on all the corners of the world we had been to since seeing each other last, fully aware that we had the next 18 days to do this on the river and that we should get some much needed sleep.
- [New Gear & Prep for Alaska](https://offyonder.com/2010/06/new-gear-prep-for-alaska/) - While I've spent some time on rivers, including a great 18-day trip down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, I have yet to experience an Arctic River like the Kongakut. I leave for that trip on 19 June and we'll be on the river for 15 days or so. Follow the adventure LIVE (starting
- [Hiking the Great Smokies](https://offyonder.com/2002/09/hiking-the-great-smokies/) - Getting to and from the Smoky Mountains can be pricey if you're on your own, but well worth it. I, however, was not on my own, and was able to split the $75 shuttle ride to the southern end of the park with my friend Dawn. We arrived in the evening at Fontana Dam, where
- [Hudson (Winter) Sailing](https://offyonder.com/2007/01/hudson-sailing/) - Shawn and I departed New York City at 6.30am under light wispy clouds in an otherwise clear sky to drive about fifty miles north up the Hudson River. It took all day to get the boat in the water. We originally wanted to catch the early morning ebb. But that didn't work out. We had
- [Ghost Town Visit](https://offyonder.com/2010/03/ghost-town-visit/) - After a wonderful few days of diving into the Gospel of John, Adventure Unlimited offered a few trips off camp for the boys. One group went to Leadville to check out the mining museum and I took a group to St. Elmo. Just half an hour from camp up a side canyon this little town has mostly been abandoned. Many old buildings still stand, and it does say that folks are welcome to wander down the road, but asked not to poke around in the buildings and someone does actually own them still. The town didn't keep the interest of the group much, but a nice hike further into the mountains was perfect after sitting and studying the bible for 3 days. Here's a few of the shots I got. Click on any of the images to see the rest of the gallery:
- [Five Fingers Time Lapse](https://offyonder.com/2010/01/five-fingers-time-lapse/) - While at Christmas camp, I set up my camera to take 30 second exposures for as long as the battery would last. Then I put another battery in and kept going. You'll see the frame shift now and then, that's probably a new battery going in. It's not the most exciting video you've seen, but then again, this is my experimentation laboratory. Welcome to it. I'll try to get a better one another time. Stay tuned.
- [Wilsons Prom](https://offyonder.com/2002/04/wilsons-prom/) - It was a beautiful mix of mountains and sea. A geographic feature known as a promontory (like a peninsula) juts out just 3 hours southeast of Melbourne to form the southern most tip of the Australian mainland. Carl, Pete, and I finally got away from the city and pulled into a rainy carivan park, found
- [Christmas Camp at the Ranches](https://offyonder.com/2010/01/christmas-camp-at-the-ranches/) - Christmas this year was a blast. I was up at the Adventure Unlimited Ranches in Buena Vista, Colorado with my mom. My primary job was to drive ski vans to Monarch and other ski areas as necessary, but I was also asked to put the "end of camp slideshow" together. Guests submitted their photos and Andy helped me sort through them (though, we asked the submitters to do a bit of editing themselves - this helped heaps). I took little video clips throughout the week and put it all together in iMovie. In looking for a good soundtrack, I texted my friend Alex Cook and asked if I could feature songs from his recently released "Tree of Life" album and he was all for it. Better yet, he was cool with me posting the whole thing to YouTube. Since YouTube limits videos to 10 minutes, the slideshow is in two parts, both are below. Enjoy! PART 1 PART 2 More videos at: http://www.youtube.com/offyonder
- [Wyoming Exposure](https://offyonder.com/2004/12/wyoming-exposure/) - Learning backcountry snowboarding with NOLS It’s all about safety. After ten days of melting snow, living in snow shelters, participating in avalanche awareness courses and scenarios with the National Outdoor Leadership School while on their Backcountry Snowboarding course, I have a much better awareness of the dangers that exist in the backcountry and how to
- [Focus UK 2009](https://offyonder.com/2009/08/focus-uk-2009/) - I've just returned from a really great few weeks in England where I was part of a program called Focus. It's a 10-day camp for Christian Scientists that only happens every four years. I worked as a house parent for the 8 under 18 boys and they were all great.
- [Sierra Adventure: Hwy 395](https://offyonder.com/2009/09/sierra-adventure-hwy-395/) - A little adventure up the Owens Valley and into the Sierra Mountains. Mammoth, Devils Postpile & Mono Lake. And some night photography! Click below to see more images.
- [Review: Ibex Clothing](https://offyonder.com/2009/09/review-ibex-clothing/) - Cameron staying warm wearing Ibex in the Alaskan White Mountains. [Full Story] Photo by Nathaniel Wilder I've come back to wool. When I started my personal journey into outdoor recreation in earnest I was 14 and still mostly at the behest of my parents financial support for the requisite clothing and gear. So when I decided to join the Explorer Search and Rescue unit that covered the Cascade Mountains in Washington State my parents were hesitant to buy me the fancy polypropylene and fleece layers that were so popular in the early 1990's. Instead, I ended up with the heavy and cheap (but very warm) Army Surplus wool. Since then I've kept with my outdoor recreation enthusiasm and have been through a number of synthetic insulation layers. But I'm done wrapping myself in plastic against my skin. Maybe it was the years in the rough Army surplus wool that made the transition to the silky smooth Ibex wool layers so easy. Maybe it was the clean cut of the base layers that snuggled against my body and moved with me with out bunching up. Maybe it was the bright and bold, the cool and subtle, the classic black, the earthy heath and heather... a great array of colors to choose from that drew me to Ibex.
- [Whitney from the West](https://offyonder.com/2003/09/whitney-from-the-west/) - There may be two routes to approach hiking up Mount Whitney, but as far as I'm concerned, there’s really only one way to go. Come from the west, my boy. The highest peak in the lower 48 has been developed into a very straight forward hike up to the 14,496 foot summit. I say hike,
- [CS Sentinel Interview: Beauty](https://offyonder.com/2009/07/beauty/) - I was recently interviewed by Kim Shippey, a senior editor at the Christian Science Sentinel about my views on beauty. It stemmed from my work as a photographer, but as you'll see if you read the interview it gets deeper than that. Anyway, requests have been made to get prints for the photo published in the Sentinel, so here it is. Just click on the photo and it will take you to where this photo can be purchased along with a gallery of images that were either mentioned in the interview or considered as candidates of 'beauty' as I saw it. The full article appears in the 20/27 July (double issue) Sentinel on Beauty. It may eventually be available on the Sentinel website: http://www.spirituality.com/sentinel/ Feel free to leave comments below, but if you want to let the Sentinel know they've done good, drop them a line.
- [Canoeing Adventure](https://offyonder.com/2003/07/canoeing-adventure/) - It felt like the Lewis and Clark expedition. We put our canoes in Flagstaff Lake and began to paddle north around the Bigelow Mountain range. It was late morning and the lake was still calm. A light breeze was drifting in from the southwest, and our expedition of four canoes laden down with dry bags,
- [Review: ExOfficio Amphib Pant](https://offyonder.com/2009/06/exofficio-amphib-pant/) - These pants live up to their name. It’s like I was wearing a long legged swimsuit. With a built in liner and mesh pocket and vents it drains and dries quickly. The liner is very comfortable and can be worn while hiking many miles. The long legs are great for protecting your legs when thrashing
- [The China Express](https://offyonder.com/2001/11/the-china-express/) - China is a land of mystery as much to those who live there as it is for those of us traveling through. Barbaric from the onset yet so refined, China, is discovered in the little pockets of civility stashed away like veins of gold in a dark mine. With the raw interpretation of our five
- [Larrabee Paddle & Bike](https://offyonder.com/2009/05/larrabee-paddle-bike/) - On a whirlwind tour to the beautiful Pacific Northwest, I ended up in Bellingham with the objective of getting some biking and paddling shots in Larrabee State Park. These are all available for sale as prints. If you like one click on it!
- [South of the Border](https://offyonder.com/2002/04/south-of-the-border/) - It was a simple overnight train ride down to Melbourne from Sydney. But now it's a matter of getting the food and supplies organized for the hike this weekend in the Wilsons Prom Wilderness as soon as Carl finishes work. The past day or so in Sydney was adventurous in its own way. I managed
- [Origin of Life Discovered](https://offyonder.com/2002/04/origin-of-life-discovered/) - It's a pretty long photo essay, but then what did you expect after I covered over 3,000 Km heading up and down the Western Australian Coast! I went north first, departing around 4.30am expecting the drive to Shark Bay to be around 12 hours. I wanted to be there by sunset. It turns out it was only about 9 hours and the direct overhead light proved to be much better for photographing the Stromatolites. They are the colonies of cynobacteria (or cyanobacteria) believed to be the first oxygen producers on Earth when they dominated the landscape for 2 billion years, starting around 3.5 billion years ago. They are the origin of the air we breathe today.
- [Sea Kayak Tour](https://offyonder.com/2006/06/sea-kayak-tour/) - The Dickman family from Pennsylvania came to the Great Northwest looking for a unique adventure that would suit their wide age range of children. With two sets of twins, David and Laura at nine years old, Natalie holding the middle ground at twelve, and the two older twins Amy and Maria, sixteen years of age a piece, they needed something equally stimulating and unburdening for the older to support the younger.
- [Around Mt. Jefferson](https://offyonder.com/2006/09/mt-jefferson-et-all/) - Since arriving at Gray Knob Cabin, exactly one month ago, I've logged over 150 miles of trotting around on the trails of the Northern Presidential Range in the White Mountains. Some of these miles were fairly easy, like my daily jaunts over to The Perch or Crag Camp while on my caretaker duty rounds, or
- [Snow Country](https://offyonder.com/2006/10/snow-country/) - The metamorphosis is nearly complete. The first substantial snows of the season silently marched in overnight as I slept transforming the green boughs of fir, the fading yellow grasses and the dark brown soils of the trail all to a white bliss. The giddy joy usually reserved for childhood filled my heart and soul as
- [Boat Jockey](https://offyonder.com/2007/05/boat-jockey/) - It started off as a one-day job helping move a sailboat down the Jersey Shore. It ended up being three sailboat delivery jobs over the span of a week. When people buy a sailboat, it usually needs to be moved from the previous owner's slip or the boat yard to it's new home. Sometimes new
- [Europe: Tour, Symphony, Ski, Reunion](https://offyonder.com/2003/12/europe-tour-symphony-ski-reunion/) - We had great week in Austria, taking day trips to Ljubljana and Bratislava, and then bringing in the new year in Graz, with Alastair. The three of us then headed to Western Austria to ski! Chris and I took the train into Germany to hunt down our long lost classmates from 20 years ago!
- [The Grand Shrine](https://offyonder.com/2001/06/the-grand-shrine/) - It’s about time I had a little slap in the face regarding Japanese culture. Coming to Japan, I knew things would be different. The culture, the food, the lifestyle, and oh, how can I forget the language! But these were differences I expected, and for the most part have not been surprised as related issues
- [Mt. Fuji Climb](https://offyonder.com/2001/07/mt-fuji-climb/) - We arrived at the base of Mt. Fuji around 10am Monday morning and easily found the cabin. We then drove up the mountain to 5th station on the Subaru-line. This is a very popular take off point for Fuji-san climbers, it’s also a very popular tourist stop. There are stacks of shops with all kinds
- [Beach Wedding](https://offyonder.com/2002/04/beach-wedding/) - It was an amazing 8am sunrise wedding! Tracey came down the isle with her dad in an Australian Surf Rescue boat from across the bay being rowed by her cousins. The ceremony was short, sweet, and very much in the fun loving environment that seems to follow these two around. The reception included breakfast was
- [HQ Fire Brigade Visit](https://offyonder.com/2002/04/hq-fire-brigade-visit/) - Last night was quite the partially expected adventure. While meeting with a friend at Circular Quay (Sydney's ferry launch), a young gal sat in the bench across from us. I had bought half a kilo of grapes and my friend and I didn't make it through them. When he had to go, I walked across
- [Island Hopping](https://offyonder.com/2002/04/island-hopping/) - The trip to New Zealand was amazing. The cape at the far NW is Cape Regina which is where a small lighthouse keeps a vigilant watch over the merging of the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean. I have since moved on to Australia where an overnight in Sydney lead on to the AU Easter
- [Downunder Again!](https://offyonder.com/2002/03/downunder-again/) - March 26th will never really exist for me... at first glance I would claim this to be my third day lost to the ether of international dateline crossing, but really I gain it back by landing in the US before I depart when I return! After arriving in Auckland, the plan was to rent a
- [Sailing: Hobart to Sydney](https://offyonder.com/2000/01/sailing-hobart-to-sydney/) - You haven't lived until you've sailed. And you haven't sailed until you've sailed Bass Strait. A relatively small stretch of water off the north coast of Tasmania, Bass strait has the reputation of consistently being the roughest stretch of water in the world. I was brutally reminded of this many times as the 60 foot
- [Hut Caretaker](https://offyonder.com/1999/12/hut-caretaker/) - This weekends adventure was with a group called the Squirrel Ski Club (SSC), but it's not always skiing that they do. Like this time, it's getting towards the middle of summer and there is not very much snow out there. Just in the few shady bits lie small patches, but we never got close to
- [Lithgow Downhill](https://offyonder.com/1999/11/lithgow-downhill/) - This was more than just a mountain biking weekend as mentioned to me... Basically, it was golf on Saturday, pool and dinner at the pub, cards and pizza all night. Then Mountain biking on Sunday Morning, and Canyoning in the afternoon. It was pretty full weekend. And I loved it.
- [Climbing with a Legend](https://offyonder.com/1999/10/climbing-with-a-legend/) - After this weekend, I was still on high for the week. It was great to meet and go climbing in the Wolgan Valley with Greg and Ben. Two guys who just live life as it comes to them, laid back, easy going, and super nice. I hope to be climbing with them again soon. Greg
- [Visa Trip... and skiing!](https://offyonder.com/1999/09/visa-trip-and-skiing/) - It all started as a simple week long trip to New Zealand so Jason could get his Australian Visa. Well, needless to say, when an adventure involves Jason and I, the simple... is made even simpler!
- [Start High, Go Low](https://offyonder.com/1999/08/start-high-go-low/) - I went to the Blue Mountains, about 2 hours west of Sydney. A guy I know had a gig with his band up there, so I caught a ride with him and saw his show Friday night, then started on the trail Saturday morning. Well, I had planned to start in the morning but I
- [Backcountry Skiing](https://offyonder.com/1999/08/backcountry-skiing/) - My weekend was great. Admittedly we spent a fair chunk of the time in the car getting there, and even having to make adjustments to the plans because the first place we went, didn't have any snow, making it hard to ski. So we drove further south about 2 more hours down along the Snowy
- [Letter Home: Australia](https://offyonder.com/1999/06/letter-home-australia/) - Australian Geographic have had a website up since 1995, but they were way ahead of the times as far as the web culture in Australia was concerned. The board of directors have recently bought out the ownership of the business from one of the very large publishing companies here in Australia, called Fairfax. With this
- [Melgus 24 ODCA Regatta](https://offyonder.com/2005/10/melgus-24-odca-regatta/) - Back in Seattle and I'm back on the water. This time however it's time to sail with the Melgus 24 fleet. Paul who owns the boat works at K2 (as you'll see through subtle hints in some of the photos) and needed a fourth to fill out his crew. The rest of the crew, Terry
- [Snowshoe Testing](https://offyonder.com/2005/03/snowshoe-testing/) - It was nearly a weekely event... getting up into the mountains to test our latest prototypes. Somebody had to do it.
- [President's Weekend Sierra Ski Trip](https://offyonder.com/2005/02/presidents-weekend-sierra-ski-trip/) - What started off as a day a the 'office' up at Carson Pass testing our latest prototypes of snowshoes, turned into a great weekend of some in and out of bounds skiing and snowboarding. The story is in the photos... maybe something more will flush out here some day!
- [Tele Part II](https://offyonder.com/2005/02/tele-part-ii/) - It was an all day event. Departing Berkeley at 6am, Mark and I caravaned up with a family he met while doing a newspaper story on Social Security. We were on the snow by 9.30. We started on the Red Dog chair which departs right from the parking lot. The snow was still cool, but
- [Winter Blue Adventure Race](https://offyonder.com/2005/01/winter-blue-adventure-race/) - Adventure racing is taking on a new season: Winter! It was a 'choose your own method of travel' sort of race where competitors arrived with telemark skis, cross country skis, snowshoes and Airboards. Rick and I were there with Airboards, as Team Airboard, and found we were competitive with the other disciplines. There were 17
- [Telemark Skiing](https://offyonder.com/2004/01/telemark-skiing/) - Telemark skiing feels as beautiful and as graceful as it looks, even for somebody just getting the knack of it for the first time. My friend Blake invited me to go skiing with him, and when he said "Oh, by the way, I'll be telemarking." I couldn't help but exclaim how I've always wanted to
- [Meeting Folks](https://offyonder.com/2001/11/meeting-folks/) - I made it to the flight no worries, but would have never expected what happened next. While waiting for the plane to board, an American sitting next to me in the lobby asked me what I was carrying, pointing to my dijeridoo. So we started talking and found out we were both going to have
- [Turtle Talk](https://offyonder.com/2001/11/turtle-talk/) - In keeping with what has turned out to be somewhat of an island fetish, my trip down south to Kyushu, the southern most island of the main Japanese islands, I also visited Kagoshima, a small island even further south! The main purpose of the trip was to see another friend from college teaching English in
- [Yea, English!](https://offyonder.com/2001/11/yea-english/) - A community center in Kuwana that we teach English at felt it necessary to take us English teachers out to lunch. It was a great meal of Udon noodles or Soba noodles accompanied by the usual array of Japanese side dishes: Tempura, Tsukemono (crunchy pickles), Miso soup, Sashimi (raw fish), Sushi rolls (raw fish rolled
- [Sadoriffic!](https://offyonder.com/2001/11/sadoriffic/) - The island of Sadogashima, just off the coast of Niigata City in the Sea of Japan proved to be an amazing discovery, one of Japans many treasures. Of greatest interest to me were the traditions that I only got a glimpse of through the trinkets at the souvenir shops. Some very interesting artwork and craftsmanship
- [Isidori Drumming Festival](https://offyonder.com/2001/08/isidori-drumming-festival/) - I made sure to postpone my departure from Japan, because everybody said this was a festival not to be missed. How right they were. Each of the townships in the city of Kuwana has a huge cart/carrage of some sort that carries a big drum like the one I'm beating on in the photo shown
- [Nagoya Festival](https://offyonder.com/2001/10/nagoya-festival/) - Jumping right back into things when I got back to Japan, I got word of the big festival hapening in Nagoya, and was off like a shot. There were plenty of traditional Japanese displays, including various battle re-enactments, which were amazing. But along with that came the western influence of the marching brass band, uni-cycles,
- [The Hunt for Sea Turtles](https://offyonder.com/2001/09/the-hunt-for-sea-turtles/) - Patience is key in scientific research and no one knows that better than Scott Eckert and Peter Dutton. The two scientists and their crews have been researching the lifestyles of huge ocean faring sea turtles for years. On trips out to sea sometimes they find the giants sometimes they don't. But they press on. When
- [The Far North!](https://offyonder.com/2001/07/the-far-north/) - Hokkaido is the northern most of the main islands which comprise Japan. And Natalie and I went to the northern tip of Hokkaido. We were hoping for clear enough weather to see Russia for the first time, but the relatively close island of Sakhalin remained elusive. Getting there took us about 33 hours all up.
- [Immersive Video](https://offyonder.com/2001/03/immersive-video/) - This past week I was down in Florida with a company called Kewazinga filming baseball, golf, and tennis pros with the Kewazinga K-System. It's an immersive video technology that provides a similar effect to what was seen in the movie "The Matrix" or what was used in this past Super Bowl. It was an exciting
- [California Coast Cycling](https://offyonder.com/2001/04/california-coast-cycling/) - The cycling trip kicked our butts. We had planned to cycle from San Francisco to Los Angles, but our time frame was marginalized by other occurrences. Secondly, we did a poor job researching how much vertical involvement there was with this trip. Especially in the section between Monterey and Point Sierra Nevada along Hwy. 1.
- [Horse Jumping - Tado Style](https://offyonder.com/2001/05/horse-jumping-tado-style/) - This was one of the crazyist things I've ever seen done with a horse. I have to admit, I don't have stacks of experience with horses, but this is really out there! This event is meant to predict, or encourage the coming year's rice crop. I'm not sure which way the influence works, The test
- [That Is Japan (TIJ)](https://offyonder.com/2001/05/that-is-japan-tij/) - "TIJ" - goes the saying, That is Japan. For the unexplainable, of which there is plenty in this world of extremes. Like the little car I drive, and all the little cars here have a "reverse beeper!" Look out, little car backing up! And there is not a "piece of crap" car on the roads
- [Sea of Japan](https://offyonder.com/2001/05/sea-of-japan/) - With the limited weekend time I have, Saturday night to Monday afternoon, I decided to make a run for the border and see how far I could get, and if I could get back in time for class! Well, the short of it is I did, and had an excellent trip to boot. To be
- [Universal Studios Japan](https://offyonder.com/2001/06/universal-studios-japan/) - What originally started off as a trip for two to fill the dream for Miki to visit USJ, quickly evolved at the last minute to a group ordeal. Normally Kazunori works on Sundays but was able to get some time off to join the group and serve as driver for the long 3 hour haul
- [The Big City](https://offyonder.com/2001/07/the-big-city/) - Contributed By Natalie The Japan I was introduced to is one of vast contrasts. Our trip to Tokyo only helped to confirm these impressions. Within the space of 24 hrs I had seen empty Tokyo streets and crowded, bustling shopping arcades. The homeless sleeping in the subway stations and camped in the parks while nearby
- [Hiroshima & Kyoto](https://offyonder.com/2001/07/hiroshima-kyoto/) - The first trip Natalie and I took after she arrived was on the train south to Hiroshima. It was a pretty wet and gloomy day... sort of appropreate as we toured the Peace Park and A-Dome, one of the few buildings still standing after the bomb. We then headed over to Miya-Jima (island) to see
- [Hemmed-In Falls](https://offyonder.com/2008/04/hemmed-in-falls/) - It was just a simple day hike... something to stretch the legs. Forrest Wilder was on a road trip back to Alaska, I was kickin' it in Arkansas. We found a trail in a guide book that was given to us. But we couldn't get to the trail head because the road was too much for our transportation. Shoulda brought the truck. No matter, we found this great hike down to Hemmed-In Falls and had a blast. Check out the video for the details.
- [Wedding Flight](https://offyonder.com/2007/01/wedding-flight/) - Frankie called me shortly after I got back from the Antarctic in March of 2006. "I'm engaged and the wedding is next January, will you be on the continent??" I had such a good time in Antarctica, I was considering another season on the ice. But with this call, my plans were firmly set on
- [Snow Stakes Run](https://offyonder.com/2005/12/snow-stakes-run/) - Every year since 1990 the meteorological (MET) department goes out to measure how much snow drift has accumulated over the previous year. About half a dozen "snow stake lines" radiate 20 kilometers out from the station in all directions to get away from the swirling influence of the buildings and other structures that cause wind

## Pages

- [About Off Yonder](https://offyonder.com/bio/) - Adventure Correspondent Cameron L. Martindell is a freelance adventure travel and expedition writer, photographer and filmmaker who is always “Off Yonder: Seeing the world for what it is.” In addition to writing his own popular blog [offyonder.com], he is the Managing Editor for Elevation Outdoors Magazine and he has contributed to The Gear Junkie, National Geographic,
- [Scrap Book](https://offyonder.com/scrap-book/) - A selection of clips. "Hiking Below the North Rim in the Grand Canyon" National Geographic Adventure, May 2014 A four day backpacking trip turns into three days after we decide to just push it all the way out and end up having a 17-mile, 6,000-vertical-foot river to rim day. Capped off by two glowing eyes
- [Information](https://offyonder.com/info/) - Photos Purchasing & Licensing Most of the images on this site are for sale either as prints or on a license for commercial use. To purchase an image or to view more images, click the image as it appears on this website to be taken to the photo library (http://photos.offyonder.com). To purchase the image, then
- [Bookings](https://offyonder.com/bookings/) - Bookings, Scheduling and Contact Cameron Martindell is "Off Yonder: Seeing the world for what it is" and is available for hire to document expeditions around the world and in any climate and terrain. He often does slide shows to share his trips to inspire and encourage those keen to get out themselves as well as
- [Home](https://offyonder.com/home/) - Welcome to OffYonder.com!

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- [guide](https://offyonder.com/tag/guide/)
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- [drinks](https://offyonder.com/tag/drinks/)
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- [toyota](https://offyonder.com/tag/toyota/)
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- [ebike](https://offyonder.com/tag/ebike/)
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- [boot bag](https://offyonder.com/tag/boot-bag/)
- [radio](https://offyonder.com/tag/radio/)
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- [helmet](https://offyonder.com/tag/helmet/)
- [walkie-talkie](https://offyonder.com/tag/walkie-talkie/)
- [chest pack](https://offyonder.com/tag/chest-pack/)
- [hero 9](https://offyonder.com/tag/hero-9/)
- [car camping](https://offyonder.com/tag/car-camping/)
- [base camp](https://offyonder.com/tag/base-camp/)
- [yurt](https://offyonder.com/tag/yurt/)
- [long-term camp](https://offyonder.com/tag/long-term-camp/)
- [bike rack](https://offyonder.com/tag/bike-rack/)
- [ski rack](https://offyonder.com/tag/ski-rack/)
- [bike](https://offyonder.com/tag/bike/)
- [shelter](https://offyonder.com/tag/shelter/)
- [gmc](https://offyonder.com/tag/gmc/)
- [yukon AT4](https://offyonder.com/tag/yukon-at4/)
- [ski](https://offyonder.com/tag/ski/)
- [metal skis](https://offyonder.com/tag/metal-skis/)
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- [winter sports](https://offyonder.com/tag/winter-sports/)
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- [overlanding](https://offyonder.com/tag/overlanding/)
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- [hammock](https://offyonder.com/tag/hammock/)
- [family adventure](https://offyonder.com/tag/family-adventure/)
- [bear safety](https://offyonder.com/tag/bear-safety/)