ExOfficio Give-N-Go boxers are comfortable and fast drying.

At a time when everyone is looking to save as much weight as possible, packing only one pair of performance underwear may sound a bit drastic. But aside from it sounding like a potentially smelly proposition,  ExOfficio’s Give-N-Go boxers offer features that may allow you the ability to go light, but definitely not commando-style.

The first thing you need to know about the Give-N-Go boxers is that they are extremely comfortable. The boxers are made from stretchable 94 percent Nylon and 6 percent Lycra Spandex.  The material is also treated with Ageis Microbe Shield which controls odor causing bacteria. But if you’ve worn the boxers for a couple of days, you can easily wash them in a sink or tub and they’ll dry in about two hours.

The wide elastic waist band is very comfortable, yet keeps the boxers in place. We also liked that the boxers worked well to wick away moisture and remained breathable during long hikes and trail runs.  We only work the boxers for a few days, but even though they didn’t smell or seem gross to wear, we washed them in the sink with mild soap and water. Our boxers dried in about one hour and 45 minutes.

ExOfficio claims testers have worn the boxers for six weeks with occasional washings in sinks during various travel experiences. While this may be a bit extreme, the boxers did feel like they could hold up for an entire trip, but what do you do while they’re drying?

The waistband is wide and comfortable. After washing the boxers dried in an hour and 45 minutes.

Fortunately ExOfficio offers the Give-N-Go underwear in a variety of styles and colors. For men, they’re available in a boxer-brief (as tested), but also in a boxer, brief and sport brief. For women, a full range and style of bottoms, tops and tanks are available.  For more information, visit www.exofficio.com.

By Dan Sanchez and Nancy Prichard

During the winter months, most climbers look forward to conquering glaciers or trekking up a 10,000 ft peak to snowboarding down the other side.  But some climbers head west to Tucson, Arizona, when weather conditions are perfect and the climbing offers scenic views that can’t be found anywhere else.

One of the best spots that many locals venture to is Mt. Lemmon. The area is about a hour’s drive from Tucson and is covered in rock pillars and pinnacles that offer excellent places to test the skills of beginners to advanced climbers. The area is higher in elevation so temperatures are typically cooler than in downtown Tucson. Nevertheless, locals recommend to bring plenty of water and sunscreen. 

From the center of Tucson, take Broadway Blvd. that runs through the center of town and head east. It hooks up with North Houghton Road that takes you north where you go north east on Catalina Highway.  Continue north east and the road turns into East Mt. Lemmen Highway where you’ll come across Windy Point, where you’ll see lots of rock pillars that jut out from a lush forest. The area is about 6,6500 feet above sea level and as you reach the main parking area at Windy Point, you come to Hitchcock Pinnacle.

This 60 foot tower is narrow at the base and expands to a wider head shaped rock at the top. The route is rated at 5.8 and because it’s a popular climb in the area, the granite face is well worn but still fun to do and has plenty of good holds. Just a few minutes walk from Hitchcock Pinnacle is an area called the Practice Cliff. It’s one side of a rock peninsula that stretches outwards towards the desert. Here the routes are long, about 50-60 feet with some overhangs, roofs and dihedrals. The routes here range from 5.6 to 5.10 and there’s a solid top-rope anchors at the top of the cliff.

There’s lots of other climbing area all along the Mt. Lemmon highway but the greatest concentration is at Windy Point. Consider Squeezing the Lemon, A Rock Climbers Guide to the Mt. Lemmon Highway, by Eric Richard Fazio as a good guide to the area. The locals also recommend to bring a headlamp in case you get caught after dark as the area gets very dark after sunset. There’s also cactus and sharp plants on the approach to some of these climbs. It’s best to wear proper approach shoes instead of sandals, and bring a jacket as the temperatures can drop towards the end of the day.

The climbs in the Mt. Lemmon area are located within the Santa Catalina mountains, which is in the Coronado National Forest. For more information on the area, visit http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coronado/

Slacker Chair is a convenient three-legged companion for you to sit on after your hard working treks along restless oceans and rugged trails.  Made by Travel Chair Company and weighing in at 1.9 pounds, the light weight and collapsible Slacker is a portable unit even the youngsters in your group will be able to help carry from time to time, when they aren’t slacking off, that is.

Don’t let the name fool you, the Slacker Chair is hard at work in its design.  We’ve all had those day-long hiking sprees when you wish you had a third leg to help you reach your peak.  The Slacker has three powder coated 18″ legs to support your frame, up to 275 pounds of you!

We took the Slacker chair on a fishing venture, and the waffle-edge design at the base of the feet gripped nicely to the pier.  Double layer polyester is laid out in triangular formation, developing into a comfortable seat; especially needed for patient fishermen.  While the sun has its way on the fading wood of the pier, there is less of a worry on the fade-resistant polyester seat; available in green, red, blue or black.

The Slacker comes in handy from the river trails to the hotel.  Fold the Slacker Chair up, and you have a neat package to slip into your pack.  It was effortless to slide the chair next to the pots, pans and gear inside the day pack.

No more muddy boulders to sit on while you enjoy your power bar along the river; the Slacker chair can withstand a little wet dirt

Ms. Barbara found the Slacker Chair easy to enjoy as she waits upon the limo.

and sand due to the over-sized nylon feet.  We really enjoyed the solid base of the Slacker chair sitting on the bank along the cool waters of the Sacramento River.

Our little Slacker went on several travel destination stories and it fit right in with the resort scene. We didn’t let our travel partners get too comfy on the Slacker chair while watching the luggage, although they wanted to.  The Slacker was a welcome addition to our resort stays to provide extra seating in the living room, without taking up too much space.  Also, the Slacker is always ready to provide a perfect spot to quickly slip on your boots or make a fast phone call.

Let’s not forget, there are times when your fresh air hikes are merely a walk to the local park to shake off the work day.  It is times such as these that the Slacker is easy to carry along your shoulder with the attached nylon adjustable-strap.  To further ease in the assembly, a Velcro strap is situated near the base of the seat to make carrying the Slacker a cinch!

Traveling by air, by car, or by sea, we loved the versatility and light weight design of the Slacker chair.  For a suggested retail value of $15.00, make the Slacker chair part of your future travel plans, we sure will.

Specifications:

Slacker will support any size slacker and it's easy to transport.

Slacker definition: One who avoids work.

Slacker Model 1389V
Dimensions (open) 12″x 14″x 20″
Dimensions (closed) 3″ x 3″ x 24″
Seat height 17.5″
Weight 1.9lbs.
Suggested retail $15.00
Colors: green, red, blue and  black

By Mary Webb

You won’t want to miss Pelican’s 2690 series HeadsUp Lite.  With various outdoor excursions in mind, we wanted a light that could take us from a family camping adventure to an evening bike ride along the road.  It’s all about hands free in California, especially when you’re setting up tents in the evening with a busy family, and those times when you need to hang on tight to your handle bars along a dark street.

Light up the Campground!

We took the Pelican HeadsUp Lite camping on a family trip to Santa Barbara. While other families fumbled along the path to the campfire with unstable hand-held flash lights, our family was able see clearly, hand in hand towards the camp site.  With 10 hours of AAA battery burn time, we knew our path would be well lit for unpacking at dusk.

With Santa Barbara comes the evening moisture from the ocean, fortunately the HeadsUp is made from ABS water-resistant plastic.

HeadsUp is light, compact, and powerful.

Not only is the ABS water resistant, it is also lightweight at a mere 4.1 ounces!

The whole family wanted to take turns wearing the HeadsUp! Clock-wise rotating knob allowed us to control the on and off capabilities.  We felt the rotating knob had less of a chance to accidentally turn on and off, as there was a proper 1/2-turn that takes place even before the LED light comes on. Plastic grooves on the built in rotary switch, which houses the lens, lends itself to easy handling; particularly those times you are wearing thick gloves.

Versatility comes in the design. There is a small stand at the back of light which transforms the Headups into a lamp, so to speak. This little lamp-stand allowed us to set the light on the tent floor for setting up sleeping bags in the evening.  There are 3 different ranges on the stand to reflect light at different angles. Each position clicks in place and we were able to read in our comfortable Big Agnes Yampa sleeping bag after an extended day hiking the trails along the Pacific Coast.

Ample padding next to your forehead makes the HeadsUp Lite easy to wear.

Light up the Road!

We were quite pleased at how bright the Pelican HeadsUp Lite is, the radial spread of light is impressive.  Enough to keep us safe on an evening road bike ride along the coast.

The HeadsUp Lite comes with two adjustable straps, elastic band and rubber. Elastic band is stitched tight and durable with a soft fabric that feels good against the forehead, the material repelled sweat as we took our bike up steep-hilled slopes.  Rubber strap fit nicely on our biking helmet also, snug and tight without slipping around.

Light up your world!

Pelican brings light to any adventure with this one. So whether you are planning a family camping excursion to the back country or intense climbing in Bryce and Zion, you will feel secure in long lasting light, durability and affordability at only $32.95!

HeadsUp Lite 2690 LED Flashlight Specifications

Light Source:

LED

Tested Lumen Value:  60.0

Tested Lux Value @ 1 Meter:  1,000

Batteries

3 AAA Alkaline, included

Battery burn time:  10 hours

Voltage

4.5

Length

2.81 inches (7.1 cm)

Weight with batteries

4.1 oz.

Weight without batteries

2.8 oz.

Briggs and Riley Excursion Backpack: Functional and Classy

By Rick Shandley

Briggs and Riley Excursion Backpack is a daypack you can use for business and pleasure. Excursion is part of the new BRX collection, a series of active travel luggage Briggs and Riley has every reason to be excited about. We ran with the Excursion Backpack for several months, generally on a daily basis. There were the grind commutes into LA to participate in the rat race. And there were out of town trips where there’s always a chance to explore and get some exercise on nearby trails or state parks.

Typically, the Excursion was loaded with files, laptop computer, and the usual knickknacks that support a human during the dog days of a work week. There were those bemusing days of multiple stops…in traffic…where the mind wonders if moving to Montana is really an option or just a pipe dream.  And there was lots of city hiking from the public parking lots, covering a few blocks, then ducking into a once magnificent office tower and up the elevators to work on some project. On a daily pace, the Excursion worked great as a mobile office.

Inside the U-shaped laptop sleeve, a 15-inch HP Pavilion laptop computer was adequately cushioned and separated from the Day Runner, manila files, and notepads. Specifications on this daypack (Product # BP118 in the BRX collection) indicate the laptop sleeve will fit up to a 16-inch laptop.

What’s impressive is this Briggs and Riley Excursion Backpack looks like the high-end piece of luggage it is. Whether you are checking

Excursion carries down jacket, hydration bladder, and everything you need for a day.

in to a luxury hotel or walking onto an aircraft with your business-class upgrade paid for with air miles you so wish you didn’t need, the Excursion fits in well. The Excursion has an overall profile that allows it to easily slide into the overhead storage bin of an aircraft, under the jaundiced gaze of the flight attendant, with no style points being deducted.

Oh, but it is when you have to travel and stay away from home for awhile that was nice about this Excursion. For the times you’re strapped to a hotel for a week or more, any fresh air you get will have to be carved out of whatever time you have and place you find yourself. The Briggs and Riley Excursion Backpack is versatile enough to go from assigned only to protecting your laptop and files, to an day pack that permits you to get out of the hotel room and hike that trail you found online.

This scenario happened a few times. Get to the hotel room, unload the laptop and set up the nice desk with all your business related things, and fill the backpack with water, snacks, a wind parka and head back out to the rental car to end the day with a long walk. Most big American cities like Seattle, Portland, Anchorage, even New York and LA have hiking and outdoor recreation right outside the tragic clusters of conflict known as downtown anywhere. If you enjoy getting outside, as opposed to dutifully relegating yourself to the hotel fitness room, having some kind of backpack is mandatory. This one just does it with panache.

Deep U-shaped Excursion lid offers good access to gear.

Excursion offers a deep U-shaped front loading pocket and an overall capacity of 18×12x9 inches of storage. With the business collateral poured out, the laptop pocket held a two-liter Camelbak Omega Hydrotanium water reservoir with no problems. Problems no, but this pack would be even more versatile if it also had retainer straps for a water reservoir. And it would be nice to have an opening on either side of the top of the pack to run the water flow tube and mouthpiece through to the exterior, so you can use it without unzipping a corner of the top flap. That’s how the Excursion was used on trips: The Camelbak Pure Flow tube ran out through a slightly unzipped corner of the pack.

A deep storage pocket inside the main compartment and forward of the laptop sleeve offered enough room for a Cloudveil Inversion down jacket compressed into its little stuff-sack, and all the gear one might need for a couple evening hours of hiking. The mesh water bottle holder on the right side works when that’s all the water you need.  On the opposite side from the mesh water bottle holder is an inverted-U shaped pocket that can be used for holding your sunglasses or reading glasses…or another bottle of water. A zipped pocket on the outside of the main flap of the Excursion works well for storing small items like your keys and quick access support items.

At the front of the pack, just behind the large exterior pocket is a slide-out identification holder, just in case the airlines have to

Excursion is rugged enough for most any situation you'll need a dual-purpose pack. On Monday, it goes back to mobile-office duty.

FedEx your pack back to you. The large zipped pocket on the front of the Excursion holds several separate compartments for sorting business cards, storing the cell phone, a wallet, and any of the smaller items you might need. Inside the outer fabric of this large front pocket is another zipped pocket for your traveler checks, passport, or your secret stash of jelly beans. Forward, and at the absolute outside of this main exterior front pocket is a non-zippered pouch that seems to collect all the access badges on lanyards, trip receipts, and loose change just as you walk up to the airport X-ray machines.

Two daisy chained clip points are arranged on either upper shoulder of the pack. Three clip-point positions are available on each side. Like larger packs, these clip-points come in handy. We use them to clip on lens-cleaning cloth and an expedition watch with a carabiner clip. It’s a nice touch, and these clip-points are an asset when you need them.

We found the padded back-panel and the shoulder straps to be comfortable and the shoulder straps are easily adjusted with standard heavy-gauge fasteners. The Excursion does not come with a hip belt, nor is one necessarily needed. However, a chest strap spans between the shoulder straps and does a good job of keeping the pack on your back and close to your chest.

Briggs & Riley logo on leather tab atop front pocket.

And at the very top of the Excursion is a nicely padded handle with the Briggs and Riley logo embossed into the leather. Another Briggs and Riley brand logo in sharp relief is located on the top of the primary front pocket. Just beneath the top handle is yet another zipped pocket that contains an anchored clip-strap to work with other roll-on Briggs and Riley luggage. Yep, you can secure the Excursion to the top of the roll-on handle as you waltz away from baggage claim, past the limo drivers morosely holding large paper signs with names other than your own on them, as you make your way to the rental car.

The Briggs and Riley Excursion Backpack is part of several new styles of roll-on luggage and accessories. At MSRP, your investment would be about $120.00. Sure, you are paying for the name, but it’s a name associated with quality, and there is nothing we can take away from that. We found, from the day it arrived, that this pack is versatile and it immediately became an everyday item in our world. It does look like it is high-end, and for folks who must be seen only with the best stuff other folks would recognize, this backpack is the real thing. But in everyday use, the Excursion is just as rugged and useful as any daypack could aspire to be for its function and classy style.

By Kimberlee Frederick

“I’m just an ordinary person,” world-renowned explorer Helen Thayer is always quick to insist. “I’m just me, going out to do these things that others would consider different or extraordinary.”

And coming from someone who scaled New Zealand mountains with Sir Edmund Hillary as a child, earned countless awards in track and luge events, became the first woman to circumnavigate the magnetic North Pole (at the age of 50, no less) lived with ancient tribes across the globe and trekked thousands of miles across multiple deserts, such a statement is an inspiring one.

Kicking off her history-making career in famous and dangerous expeditions, 1988 saw Thayer travel solo to the North Pole—without the aid of a dogsled or snowmobile. She did have Charlie, however, the Canadian Eskimo Husky trained by an Inuit polar bear hunter to warn against polar bear attacks and thus save Thayer’s life many times during the trip. From there, she lived for a year in the Canadian Yukon with Charlie and her husband Bill, studying families of wolves. Then, after 4,000 miles across the Sahara, 1,200 miles down the Amazon River and 1,600 miles through the Mongolian Gobi Desert between 1996 and 2001, the Thayers still weren’t ready to stop exploring.

Living with indigenous cultures has been an integral part of Thayer’s experiences. Last November, she and Bill lived for a month amidst the Maasai tribe of East Africa, interacting and living without the influence of American culture. “We throw away our Western ways,” Thayer said. “We live as close as possible to the way the tribes do.” This included going on hunts and spending time gathering with the Maasai, and also residing in the huts that they build. “Really, it’s closer to the everyday lifestyle that people used to live,” said Thayer.

Helen and Bill are accepted into cultures like the Maasai quite graciously. This is due in large part to the value many tribes place on elder members of society. Had the Thayers begun their visits before their senior years, it is not likely that they would have had the opportunity to immerse themselves as they have. But even with extensive experience and growing comfort with living amongst different tribes, Helen highlights the importance of maintaining humility, though it’s not something she finds difficult. “When we arrive among these people, we have every reason to be humble,” she said. And after being within ten feet of a pride of 14 lions, but knowing that the accompanying Maasai had complete control over the situation, it’s easy to see humility as a trait faced with on a daily basis. “These people know, they sense things,” she said about the lion encounter. “Eventually, we started to understand. It’s something you kind of get a feel for.

Helen Thayer and Charlie, her Eskimo dog.

After many trips to Africa and other cultures around the world, living a simpler lifestyle than the one found in much of the Western world is not a difficult task for the Thayers. “It’s not quite a culture shock; we’re finding it to be easier,” Helen said. “These people live a simple lifestyle. It’s nice not to have a cell phone constantly going.”

Their trip last February to live with the Bushmen in southern Africa provided other specificities to adjust to. Thayer said, “We lived as cave people, the life they lived 10,000 years ago.” Living a 10,000-year-old lifestyle indicated the utter lack of any possessions, including utensils. “It took a long time to get used to, because people sort of just reach for food, and you have to learn how to not get pushed out of the way,” she said.

The unique language of the Bushmen was another thing to adjust to while staying with the tribe. Composed of a series of clicks, their incredibly difficult language is spoken by very few people in the Western world. It is suggested that the hunters of the tribe developed the language long ago based on the fact that animals don’t register the clicks as they would the sounds used in languages by other parts of the world. Thayer learned some of the language while she resided with the Bushmen. “I try and learn enough to connect on a basic level, but our Africa contact is one of the few people that speaks the click language, so he was our interpreter,” she said.

One of the many goals that Thayer has in going to spend time with different tribes is returning to them multiple times. “We go back because we make friends,” she said. “It establishes more of a relationship. We want to establish intercultural respect.”

The idea of intercultural respect was one that the Thayers saw a battle with when they visited Alaska to study the Inuit people.  After walking and kayaking their way through Alaska to examine the situation with the cultures there, Helen and Bill found that “all of the cultures in Alaska are having problems mixing with Western ways.” While a couple of generations ago Inuit peoples didn’t worry about jobs or even the concept of time, “now those are real concerns,” according to Thayer.

These days, those that avoid Western influence and don’t get jobs don’t get money, and now getting money is the only way to get food. Beyond that, alcohol and drugs have become serious issues in the Bush of Alaska—the region where most of Alaska’s native populations reside. Consequently, Thayer acknowledged the presence of a negative attitude toward Westerners.

African elephant roaming its home.

Such experiences add to the reasons Thayer feels it is vital to enhance knowledge and encourage respect toward cultures other than one’s own. Such a philosophy is what brought about Thayer’s Adventure Classroom, an organization developed not only to teach kids about the world beyond themselves, but also to inspire them to have goals and pursue them.

“Americans can learn a tremendous amount from other cultures…and students are extremely responsive to this idea,” Thayer said. “These kids are going to be the leaders of the future, and we want them to learn sympathy to other cultures.” After seeing the resourcefulness and the way in which people learn to work with their surroundings in other cultures, Thayer felt the need to “show kids that we don’t have to be extremely talented, we don’t have to be rich. We can reach whatever our goals are, we just can’t give up.” Adventure Classroom is also a way for Thayer to detail her experiences doing the things that many would think impossible, further inspiring kids to realize the importance of “setting goals, being persistent, and being compassionate to what we want,” she said.

Thayer’s long-time affiliation with the CORDURA Brand has also supplemented her Adventure Classroom efforts. “They understand kids and understand the need for education,” she said. Thayer maintains that the quality products the CORDURA Brand offers allow many of her expeditions to run as smoothly as possible. “Our lives depend on good planning, and we’re fortunate these people are here not only as sponsors but to give us the quality gear we need,” said Thayer.

Thayer’s plans for the coming years show no signs of wearing down. She and her husband are planning another trip to Africa in November, to visit another one or two tribes. They also plan to visit specific places in the Sahara desert, take three different routes through China and trek across Nepal. “We’re lucky to have just a two person expedition,” she said about traveling with her husband. “I’m not sure anyone else could stand traveling with us.”

But even with so many expeditions on the agenda, Thayer is factoring in plenty of time for writing. In addition to her books “Polar Dream,” about reaching the North Pole; “Three Among the Wolves,” about observing wolf families; and “Walking the Gobi,” Thayer has several other books in the works. She plans to write a biography of Charlie, the dog that helped Thayer reach the Pole alive, as well as an account of her experiences in Africa, potential series of books entitled “Walking Africa.”

Helen’s explanation for her incredible success in all that she’s tackled is simple: “I just never considered giving up. When you give up on your goal, you give up on yourself.” And her to-the-point philosophy is what has inspired people across the globe for years to do what fear tells them they can’t.

“I’m only 5’3”, for goodness sakes!” Thayer said. “Honestly, we ordinary people can achieve truly extraordinary things.”

Open all year round, Arches’ most identifiable allure is the world famous Delicate Arch. Former Arches Interpretive Ranger Jim Blazik insists that arch “is probably one of the best known features in all of Utah.”

At 52 feet tall, Delicate Arch’s dramatic formation makes it a popular hiking destination for visitors to the park. A moderately difficult, three-mile trip on the main trail, hiking to the arch exposes to hikers the geology of the area and offers a sweeping view of the southern portion of the park. “It’s definitely a memorable place,” said Blazik. “People just want to hang out and ‘wow’ about it.”

Though not all of the park’s 2,000 arches are as recognizable as Delicate Arch, there is no shortage of remarkable sites for park visitors to enjoy. Landscape Arch, for example, measures 306 feet long from base to base, making it the longest arch in the entire park. Beyond that, spires, balanced rocks, eroded monoliths and sandstone “fins” are scattered throughout the park, exhibiting a chaotic geologic history that includes millions of years of erosion and deposition.

The arches and other natural formations themselves formed as a result of the land’s location on an underground “salt bed” that is in some places thousands of feet thick. 300 million years of debris erosion and sandstone deposits eventually resulted in many of the notable structures that attract visitors to Arches today.

Although the natural wonders spanning Arches National Park have drawn in admiring visitors for more than a thousand years, hunter-gatherers claimed the area for other uses at the end of the last ice age 10,000 years ago. More recently, about 2,000 years ago, the land was cultivated by nomads who left behind pottery and artifacts as evidence of their residence in this portion of eastern Utah.

Petroglyphs can be found in Arches National Park.

Since it was first discovered, the history of the Arches area was broadened when Spanish missionaries went through the region to create a route through the deserts to their California missions. From there, recognition of the area’s natural beauty and unique structures steadily increased. In 1929 Herbert Hoover declared Arches a national monument, and in 1971 Congress gave it the enhanced status of a national park.

If the 10,000-year history — the complex story behind the geology and the awe-inspiring rock formations — aren’t enough to attract visitors internationally, the breadth of outdoor activities for every type of tourist imaginable adds even more incentive to visit Arches.

“This is a place set aside because of its geology, but you sure don’t have to be a geologist to be impressed,” Blazik said. Besides the must-do hikes to the more notable arches, Blazik notes that “there are a number of trails, from some that are even wheelchair accessible to longer trails that take a day or a day and a half.”

It is the variety of hikes that helps to make Arches an ideal family park. The multitude of less strenuous hikes is ideal for kids and visitors of limited mobility. One of the easier hikes that Arches offers, The Windows is a trail that Blazik called “one of the most popular.” A one mile long hike round trip, it leads to three remarkable arches—North Windows Arch, South Windows Arch and Turret Arch.

Hikes through the area of Arches called the Fiery Furnace also rate high in visitor popularity. Three hours long, the hikes are usually considered moderately difficult and require proper hiking gear. Blazik notes that he has gotten some of the most remarkable tourist reactions from the Fiery Furnace, through which he led a number of hikes when he worked at Arches. “You’d see it in somebody’s eyes, or they would just come out and say it—it usually really affected them,” he said.

Camping is another popular visitor activity that Arches does not fail to accommodate. According to Blazik, “The Devils Garden is a

Arches National Park.

popular site for camping,” where campers have year-round access to restrooms, portable water, picnic tables and grills and, at some sites, room for RVs up to 30 feet in length.

Located about 18 miles from Arches’ entrance, Devils Garden is ideal for new and seasoned visitors alike. Fifty individual campsites are available for up to 10 people March through October. Reservations for group campsites for 11 or more people are also available at two different sites. The Juniper Basin site can hold up to 55 people and is available March through October, and the Canyon Wren site has room for up to 35 people and is open year-round.

Climbing at Arches is a big draw, but adventurers need to know the strict regulations that Arches has in place. A list of arches and bridges that are designated as off limits to climbing of any sort is given to visitors interested in climbing. While this list bans a number of structures for climbing, it leaves much of the park’s rock open.  Arches is adamant about banning any climbing activity that removes plant life from the rocks or changes the physical shape of any of the structures.

Part of the Colorado Plateau, Arches is located in what is called a “high desert,” and temperatures therefore vary significantly from season to season. Even during the day, the temperature can fluctuate up to 40 degrees from the day to the night.

Wind sculpted rock structures go back thousands of years.

Weather in Arches and the surrounding Moab area can get extreme in the winter and summer months, with January typically being the coldest month and July the hottest. Summer temperatures, often more than 100 degrees, make the more strenuous activities offered at the park difficult. Intense storms often accompany summer nights, frequently causing flash floods.

Snow during the winter months is not uncommon, though typically the area does not get especially heavy snowstorms. Rain is regular, with the heaviest rainfall usually occurring in October. As such, Blazik said that the best time to visit Arches “is during the spring or fall, because it’s definitely more temperate.” Indeed, the temperature during these seasons is between 60 and 80 degrees during the day and 30 to 50 degrees at night.

Arches National Park is a land set apart for its rich history and intriguing geology. From the nomads of thousands of years ago to eager tourists visiting the park yearly, interest in the natural wonders of Arches has never waned. An ideal place for lovers of awe inspiring sights, the complex terrain within Arches “is very forgiving,” Blazik said, “but it’s rugged, too. At the same time, it’s also a fragile place, and there’s a lot that can be said for that.” From gentle trails to strenuous hikes, there is something for everyone coming to Arches. Still, “It’s not Disneyland,” Blazik urges visitors to remember. “It’s for real out there.”

Arches National Park is open 24 hour a day all year round. For more information, please visit http://www.nps.gov/arch

By Kimberlee Frederick

Photos by R. Shandley

Big Tahoma is equal to the harshest punishment, with its fully adjustable suspension system. Simply, it is a expedition-quality, ultralight, high capacity (70 liters), backpack with a low profile.
The Big Tahoma pack’s suspension system uses adjustable hip belt and shoulder harness system for a customized fit.  The molded frame-sheet, with its twin V-shaped aluminum stays, offers the best combination of light weight, durability and stable support. Furthermore, the framesheet can be removed for the ultimate minimalist pack.

First Ascent’s Big Tahoma is the backpack Whittaker Mountaineering’s Guide Team wears on Mt. Rainier and all their other 2-3 day climbs.

Here’s what guide’s Peter Whittaker and Ed Viesturs says about the Big Tahoma:

“The Big Tahoma holds everything I need on a climb, from Rainier to Everest. You will not find any features on this pack that do not provide a needed function.” Peter Whittaker
“Guiding 70,000 clients up Rainier since 1968, you get a pretty good idea about the ideal pack. This is it.” Ed Viesturs

By the way, both Peter Whittaker and Ed Viesturs are on Mt. Everest right now (May 12, 2009) waiting for good weather and the chance to lead their respective teams to the summit of the highest mountain on earth (29,035.3 feet elevation).

Big Tahoma features:

• ULTRA-LIGHT 2-3 DAY PACK
• REMOVABLE HIP BELT
• FLOATING LID
• “V” STAY SYSTEM
• REINFORCED 1000D CORDURA NYLON CRAMPON PANEL
• REMOVABLE CRAMPON STRAPS
• SIDE ZIP OPENING TO ACCESS MAIN COMPARTMENT
• 210D NYLON N66 DOUBLE RIPSTOP
• 1000D NYLON CORDURA & DIMENSION-POLYANT
•  # WX20 SAILCLOTH
• CARGO CAPACITY: 70-LITERS
• WEIGHT: 3.84 lbs

Price point: $249.00

You can research and purchase most all your high-altitude and mountaineering gear at: www.whittakermountaineering.com

Three Among Wolves, by Helen Thayer

We all fancy ourselves, at some point in our lives, to be adventurous. And few of us can keep a straight face when there is a puppy in the room. Even the most sober among us cannot remain stoic in the presence a dog, any age, who knows how to make you laugh. Well, here’s a story about dogs, wolves, and people in author Helen Thayer’s book, Three Among Wolves. It is a must read for any level-headed human being who wants to know the real story about the wolf, and their place in the health of North America’s wildlife, and importance to any region within the wolf’s natural range.

“After our year long experience living with wolves we are convinced that wolves must be allowed to exist in their natural state. They are a major reason for the overall health of prey (and game) species as they cull the weak, sick, and old,” said Helen Thayer.

Helen, her husband Bill, and her Canadian Eskimo Husky named Charlie are the “Three Among Wolves,” a true story articulating the adventure and wonder of observing wolf behavior in a setting of the wolf’s choice. These three lived with timber and arctic wolves in Canada’s Yukon Territory (above the Arctic Circle) and the Mackenzie Delta. This adventure was long enough to experience for themselves an animal society so advanced in their family structures, that modern humans could learn lots about parenting and getting along with their neighbors.

And guess what the catalyst was, the diplomatic emissary to make proper introductions between the wolves and humans in this story? It was Charlie, an enormous black Eskimo Husky who was born on an ice flow, chewed ice for water, and trained by an Inuit polar bear hunter to be the early warning alarm for approaching polar bears. It is Charlie, a fur-bearing, four-legged canine that author Jack London would have been honored to write about this creature alongside of “White Fang” and “Call of the Wild.”

While we’re at it, let’s write a book about Charlie! Below is the pivotal role Charlie performed as liaison between mankind and the wolves the Thayers’ studied:

“Following Charlie’s lead the Thayers’ discover the complexities of wolf family structure, including the alpha male and female, care of the pups, hunting and survival skills. This book is both a natural history of wolves and adventure tale. Far from being the viscous killers of popular imagining, the Thayer’s found that wolves form loving family bonds in a world that offers them neither safety nor understanding.” From: Three Among Wolves.

If we might be so bold as to recommend Three Among Wolves for President Obama’s reading list, he will be enlightened about this relevant topic in current times. And should President Obama read this book to his daughters, “Bo,” the Portuguese water dog may be able to clear up and facilitate any questions the First Family might seek answers to regarding humans and the relationship with wolves.  You can order Three Among Wolves by going to Helen Thayer’s website at: www.helenthayer.com

 By Rick Shandley

Sometimes the best thing you can do is nothing at all. That’s how mountaineer Dave Hahn looked at it while waiting out periodic snow showers and cloud encroachment. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t time to venture up to the newly established Camp 3 at 23, 400 feet elevation either. It was simply time to wait.

So Hahn and his team occupied themselves during the snowy stand-down at Camp 2 or Advanced Base Camp (ABC) on Mt. Everest May 3, 2009.  Sunday was scheduled as a rest day, so Hahn and his team whipped out their journals, I-pods, and picnic supplies to idle through the hours and recharge their human condition.

“I’ve long considered such skills to be the mark of a good expedition climber — the ability to do nothing, when nothing is what should be done,” Hahn said from the 21, 300 foot elevation of Camp 2. “For active (or hyperactive) Type-A climbers this requires an acceptance and a faith that there will be an abundance of physical abuse and over stimulated synapses, all in good time…like, say, tomorrow.”

The rest of the world following along on this climb, also wait to find out what Dave Hahn along with his team and Peter Whittaker are up to, as they reach for the summit of the Mt. Everest at its apex of 29,035 feet. Dave Hahn has summated Mt. Everest at least 10 times so far.  This could be his 11th?

You can follow along with Dave and his team by reading his posts from Mt. Everest by visiting www.firstascent.com and click on the Blog tab. First Ascent is a new line of mountaineering equipment from Eddie Bauer, a traditionally legendary expedition outfitter long before they got into winter and spring fashion wear. We’ll be following up with the new First Ascent line of gear, and hopefully a visit with Dave Hahn in the near future.

By Rick Shandley