If you were planning on hiking the Inca Trail in the next month, you may have to rethink your plans. Normally, the Inca Trail is closed during the month of February for maintenance, but unusually heavy rainfall this season has caused flooding in the area. As a result, the trail will remain closed to hikers…
Monthly Archives: February 2010
BC to ban mineral exploration near Glacier National Park
Last month we wrote about the recommendation to ban mining near Glacier National Park in British Columbia. The latest development of the issue was announced Monday–British Columbia will be banning mining and drilling near the park. Most of Glacier National Park lies in Montana, where mineral exploration and energy development are off limits. However, the…
Recent designs from Brunton
Brunton has been making outdoor equipment for hikers, campers, hunters, and outdoor enthusiasts for over a century. This diverse group of customers is because of the wide range of products they design and manufacture, from binoculars to campstoves. Some of their more recent designs were showcased at the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market. Here are a…
New products from Deuter for Winter 2011
Deuter, the German backpack manufacturer, has been making backpacks for over 110 years and they have a reputation of being a leader in innovation and quality. We had a chance to check out some of their new packs for the Winter 2011 season and were really impressed. Here are a few of their new products….
US Fish & Wildlife Service sued to protect pygmy rabbits
The Fish & Wildlife service can’t seem to catch a break these days. First they get in quite a bit of heat over refusing to list the pika as an endangered species. Now they’re getting sued for not protecting the incredibly cute pygmy rabbit. The lawsuit has been filed by the environmentalist group Western Watersheds…
Review: Medicine for Mountaineering, 6th Edition
I’m not quite sure what I expected from Medicine for Mountaineering when I read the synopsis online. Perhaps a field guide to basic first aid in the mountains that you could stuff in your pack. When the book arrived in the mail, I was surprised to see more of a textbook than a field guide….
New products from Columbia Sportswear for Fall 2010
One of the big buzzes at Outdoor Retailer Winter Market was the introduction of Columbia Sportswear’s Omni-Heat technology. The latest addition to their Omni line of of technologies, Omni-Heat will be available in three styles of insulation: reflective, thermal, and electric. This new technology is said to provide warmth and temperature regulation with less bulk….
New Products from GoLite for Fall 2010
When I think of ultralight outdoors products, GoLite is one of the first brands that comes to mind. Using innovative construction technology and fabrics, they design specifically for the outdoor adventurer with weight-saving in mind. However, GoLite is also committed to sustainability in the industry and incorporates this into the production of their products, using…
New products from Mountain Hardwear for Fall 2010
We had a chance to check out the new products from Mountain Hardwear at Outdoor Retailer Winter Market last month. They will be introducing a ton of new products for the Fall 2010 season. Here are just a few of our favorites. Emporia Jacket This women’s alpine jacket is designed with mountaineering in mind. Constructed…
New products from Sierra Designs for Fall 2010
Sierra Designs has been in the outdoor gear market since 1965, and has always developed their products with the eco-conscious consumer in mind, but keeping prices at attainable levels. We got a preview of some of the new outerwear pieces from Sierra Designs Fall/Winter lineup at Outdoor Retailer. Here are just a few. Solar and…