See Where You’re At and Where You’re Going with Nightlighter

by Justin Glow on

If you’ve ever traipsed through the woods at night, you’ll know how difficult it can be to shine a pathway ahead and keep from tripping over twigs and branches at the same time. This “Nightlighter” flashlight is unique in that beams of light shoot out in two directions — one at the pathway in front of you, and the other aimed at your feet so you can see “where you are at, as well as, where you are going.”

The design is probably a bit too big for backpacking, but it’s perfect for your next camping trip. Dad, if you’re reading this — don’t buy one. This may be your Christmas present.

$29.95 from firstSTREET. [via]

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.

Use History to Predict the Weather

by Justin Glow on

I love weather. Seriously — I’ve always been a closet meteorologist. You know, the guy who attempts to predict the weather without knowing a lick of science. Just by looking at the clouds, or maybe sticking a wet finger in the air to test the wind, I’m able to come up with a pseudointellectual prediction — a forecast sprinkled with terms like troposphere, low level disturbances, and cumulonimbus. I have no idea what these terms really mean, of course, but the people on the Weather Channel sound like freakin’ geniuses when they use them.

When I travel, weather is always the first thing on my mind. It’s a funny thing to be so concerned about, because it’s not like we have any control over what the sky decides to do. However, predictions (whether they’re my own, or that of a “professional”) rarely affect my plans — I’m just curious, that’s all. I’ve got a lot of Internet tools in my arsenal of weather-prediction software, but my favorite is Weather Underground. They have, in my opinion, the best web-based radars, and their forecasts have proven to be the most accurate. They also have a feature I recently stumbled upon that will help predict the weather when traveling: the Trip Planner Weather. Horrible name, I know — but the thing is awesome, trust me. Here’s why:

For instance, on Sunday I’ll be going on a float trip down the Niangua River, and camping at Bennet Spring State Park near Lebanon, Missouri. (Locals pronounce it “Le-buh-nun.”) If I plug Lebanon into the Trip Planner, and set the dates for August 15 and 16, the program gives me the following statistics based on historical records:

  • The Average High Temperature is 85 F with a historical range of 75 F to 95 F.
  • There is a 15% chance of a Hot Day (temperature over 90°F / 32°C).
  • There is a 0% chance of a Freezing Day (temperature below 32°F / 0°C).
  • The Average Daily Precipitation is 0.07 with a historical range of 0.00 to 1.23.
  • There is a 5% chance of a Precipitation Day.
  • Average Cloud Cover is mostly sunny.
  • The Average Wind is 6 mph with a historical range of 2 mph to 15 mph.
  • There is a 90% chance of a Humid Day (dew point over 65°F / 18°C).
  • There is a 40% chance of a Sweltering Day (dew point over 70°F / 21°C).

Actually, the Trip Planner defaulted to the nearby city of Fort Leonard Wood, MO, but you get the point. Next week, I’ll give you an update on whether or not history can predict the future. If so, I’m one step closer to coming out of the meteorological closet.

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Tools for Removing Ticks

by Justin Glow on

Anytime I go camping, I inevitably find myself traipsing through dense woods in a search for firewood. Camping season is, unfortunately, also tick season, and it’s rare to get back to the tent and not find a few of those nasty buggers latched onto my skin. Typically I spend some time hunting about my body, picking them off with varied success. They’re pretty tough to get off!

Kevin Kelly’s got a few good recommendations when it comes to tick removal: the Tick Twister and the Trix Tick Remover. The Tick Twister works by getting between your skin (or your dog’s) and the tick, and twisting it out of its death grip, while the Trix Tick uses a lasso to wrangle the tick off of your skin (seriously).

Check out KK’s reviews: