Clif Bars now Producing Wine

by Neil Woodburn on

Clif Bars are a staple part of any backpacking trip I’ve ever been on.

These chewy energy bars, in my opinion, are the best on the market–they are neither too much like cookies nor too much like paste. They’ve got great flavors such as Cool Mint Chocolate, Peanut Toffee Buzz, Crunchy Peanut butter and they are all packed with carbohydrates, protein, and fiber to increase blood sugar levels and boost energy.

The family owned business, which has done quite well providing outdoorsmen with all the healthy nutrients they need, are now branching out to a product with entirely different benefits: wine.

Clif Bar Family Wines comes to us from a plot of land in Napa Valley on which the family practices sustainable farming. So far, the vineyards have produced just four vintages:

The Climber, 2004 North Coast Red Wine
Kit’s killer cab, 2003 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Gary’s Improv, 2003 Napa Valley Meritage
Syrah, 2004 Napa Valley

Bottles range from $15 to $35 and can be purchased here.

I haven’t tried any myself but certainly will. In the meantime, it brings a smile to my face that after decades of getting us to the top of mountains, the Clif family is now providing entertainment for us once we’re there.

Backpacking Trip and Packing List

by Jamie Rhein on

My daughter is headed off on her first backpacking trip today. I signed her up. She’s thrilled. She’s 14, so if you really think she’s thrilled, I have a piece of land that might interest you. Actually, she’s a bit intrigued, but did feel shocked when I told her that a vehicle carrying her stuff is not showing up at a campsite. “That’s why it’s called backpacking, ” was my response.

Her packing list provided by the group she is going with was short and managable. One thing on the list I wouldn’t have thought of was a camp chair. In case you’re planning a 4-day backpacking trip anytime soon, here are the details of what you might bring:


Scott Walker’s List: (I edited down in some places, but kept most wording just the same)

  • T-shirts 1-2 – Recommended type- Patagonia Capalene light or silk weight, Marmot light or silk weight DriClime, or similar. They dry faster and retain their performance when wet. Cotton is okay for sleeping in.
  • Light or mid weight long underwear shirt. Same materials as above, no cotton.
  • Expedition weight shirt/jacket.
  • Rain Jacket – big enough to fit over all layers. Recommended. Gore-Tex or similar. Ponchos are not recommended.
  • Underwear– 1-2 pairs of most comfortable
  • Shorts – Loose fitting, nylon, hiking or river shorts are best.
  • Light or mid weight long underwear if you get cold easily
  • Pants – Nylon pants are best, if these are zip-off pants they can double as your shorts. Pants are great to hike in to protect your legs from thorns, and poison ivy.
  • Rain Pants* -These pants are optional, Most people do not take these on backcountry trips, but if you feel more comfortable bringing them then go for it.
  • Hiking Boots– Medium off-trail backpacking/hiking boots. This is the most important piece of equipment on any backpacking trip. Make sure they are still comfortable. Make sure they fit with the socks you will be bringing
  • Socks – 2-3 pairs of wool-synthetic blend or synthetic socks. Smart Wool, Patagonia, and Bridgedale. All make excellent backpacking/hiking socks. These socks must be long enough to pass the top of your boots.
  • Camp shoes– A pair of old tennis shoes are perfect for these around camp, and day trip shoes. Sandals of any kind are not acceptable. You will switch into these shoes at the end of each hiking day. These should be comfortable and big enough to be worn with your hiking socks.
  • Bowl-This bowl is what you will eat all of your meals out of. It should have a lid so it is able to keep leftovers, and sturdy enough to be packed in you pack. Tupperware is great, and screw tops are better then ones that just press on.
  • Plate-A small plastic plate is best, durable and small enough to fit into your pack easily.
  • Spoon–Lexan spoons are the best. They are durable, light, and cheap. You should not need a fork, but if you want to bring one it is up to you.
  • Water Bottles– You need 2 water bottles. The total capacity should be at least 2 liters. Camelbacks are extremely popular and very handy. If you bring one of these you will also need a water bottle, and the total of these two should be at least 2 liters. Brands: Camelback is the most durable brand in this product line. Other brands are acceptable, but if you are going to buy one of these get a Camelback. Nalgene is the best outdoor water bottle on the market. They are unbreakable. Wide mouth is best, but if you already have a small mouth bottle, don’t buy a new one just for this trip.
  • Pocket Knife-Used mostly for cooking and food preparation. Multi-tools are great, and are usually more durable. Leatherman is a great brand, but can be pricy and heavy. Look for the smaller backpacking version.
  • Sunscreen -SPF 15 or higher, must be sweat proof and long lasting. You will also need lip balm with SPF.
  • *Sunglasses
    Should be cheap with UV protection. DO NOT take expensive sunglasses on this trip. Sunglass retainers are also very nice. Scott has broken every pair of sunglasses he has ever taken backpacking.
  • Headlamp-This should be a lightweight model powered by 3 AAA batteries. Petzl and Black Diamond are the best brands. Don’t spend more than $40 on this! Make sure the batteries you bring are new. You can bring a regular flashlight also, but these are lighter and easier to use. You need one of these.
  • Toothbrush, toothpaste, and hand lotion are the most needed items. Trial sizes are best. You can bring hand sanitizer if you want, we will have soap for you to use.
  • *Disposable Camera-DO NOT bring a nice/expensive camera, we will not let you. A regular disposable camera is perfect and if you lose it you won’t be out a few hundred bucks.
  • Plastic Bags– 5-6 freezer ziptop bags with secure closure. 2-3 trash bags to protect your stuff from the rain. The thicker the better, trash compactor bags work really well
  • *Multi-Vitamin– Bring just enough for the trip.
  • *Camp Chair– This is the one optional item that no backpacker leaves home without. These are great for campfires, group times, and just hanging out. This is optional but if you can bring one, you will be much more comfortable. Crazy Creek is the best brand of these chairs.

Tallest Cactus in the World

by Jamie Rhein on

This might not be the coolest time of year to visit the tallest cactus in the world, but you can’t miss it if you head to the Sonora Desert in Baja California, Mexico where, according the Guiness World Records 2007 edition, the tallest of the tall cardon (Pachycereus pringlet) measured 63 feet in April of 1995. The books also states that this height is about as tall as four giraffes.

The other massive plant is the saguaro cactus. According to the U.S. post office stamp this cactus is the tallest in the United States. One place to see saguaros in abundance is at the Saguaro National Park near Tucson, Arizona. Even though it’s VERY hot here in the summer, as in scorching, there are guided programs by park rangers almost every weekend. This Friday you can go on the Twighlight Hike, a two hour walk that starts one hour before sunset or the Night Walk.

For a look at all sorts of desert cactus, the Cactus Garden at the Arizona -Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson has an extensive collection. This place looks stunning. It’s a zoo, a botanical gardens, gallery and natural history museum designed promote a love of nature– particularly the desert.

One for the Road: Fun on Foot in New England

by Kelly Amabile on

The Fun on Foot series is an independently published collection of guides to the best places to run, job and walk. The newest title in the series is Fun on Foot in New England, which highlights the best trails and pathways in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. There are detailed route suggestions for Cape Cod and Nantucket, and cities like Hartford, CT, Burlington, VT, Providence, RI and Boston, MA, which features expanded coverage.

The foot-focused team behind this series of guides is Warwick and Nola Ford, Australian-raised Canadian-Americans with a passion for running, skiing, and travel. While working as an executive, Warwick traveled frequently, and found that his biggest challenge at that time was identifying easy options for fitness in between countless cross-country flights. That led to the Fun on Foot project. Now, Warwick and Nola spend their time researching and documenting enjoyable on-foot routes in cities throughout the US.

Eco-tourism in Laos

by Martha Edwards on

According to the Lonely Planet, tourism in Laos is set to soar to all-time highs. I suspect this has to do with the popularity of Thailand as a tourist destination, as people tend to reason that if they’re going all that way they should do the whole shebang. I don’t know if anyone travels across the ocean for the sole purpose of visiting Laos, but it sure is worthy of it’s own trip — which you already know, if you’ve ever been there.

Jungle treks in particular are expected to flourish, which gives some valuable income to to the country and its people — hopefully it keeps the forest from being levelled as well. The Laotian government has shown it’s commitment to Eco-tourism, so let’s hope they stand by their word.
Laos is truly unique place — rugged and undeveloped, friendly and peaceful, full of beauty, both urban and natural. It’s a world away from the bright lights of Bangkok. When I first arrived in Laos, I was amazed by so much, but what stands out is the lack of streetlights in towns (or paved roads for that matter.) We left the Indian restaurant at 9, a full two hours before the country-wide curfew, and hardly found our way back to the guesthouse because of the darkness. I was a city girl who hadn’t realized that the world got that dark at night. I wonder if it will stay like that? I hope so. We all need little reminders like that.