August 2011 Archive

28
Aug
2011
kloomis

Women's Keen Targhee II Mid Hiking Boots Review

Product Rating: 
4
Women's Keen Targhee II Mid Hiking Boots

Features:

The Keen Targhee II Mid Hiking Boots are touted as a stable, comfortable day hiker in true Keen fashion. They feature classic Keen rubber toe wrapping, Keen.Dry™ waterproof membrane, waterproof nubuck leather uppers, and removable metatomical dual density EVA footbed. The midheight upper cuff offers ankle stability and support. Available in multiple colors.

27
Aug
2011
jloomis

2011 Hood To Coast Relay - Oregon

2011 Hood to Coast Relay

2011 marked my second year running the Hood to Coast Relay, dubbed "The MOTHER of All Relays". The Hood to Coast is a 200 mile multi-day relay consisting of 1,250 twelve-member teams which begins at Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood, Oregon and finishes at Seaside on the Oregon Coast. Each team normally has two vans of six runners. 2011 was the 30th anniversary of the Hood to Coast Relay, and it is the largest running relay in the world. Each team member typically runs three legs varying in length from about 4 to 8 miles for a total of 36 legs per team.

20
Aug
2011
kloomis

Hiking to Coldwater Peak - Mount Margaret Backcountry, Washington

Coldwater Peak - Mount Margaret Backcountry, Washington

Katie and I left our home in Portland, Oregon around 6 AM and drove North to Johnston Ridge Observatory in the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument (North side of Mount St. Helens). Our plan was to hike the Boundary trail #1 to the Coldwater Peak trail #1E to the summit of Coldwater Peak (5,727'). This 5.9 mile (each-way) hike offers excellent views of Mount St. Helens, the pumice plain, and the surrounding blast zone from its eruption on May 18, 1980. Over 30 years later, the landscape is still very barren compared to before the eruption.

18
Aug
2011
kloomis

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Mattress Review

Product Rating: 
5
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Mattress

Features:

The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir mattress is an ultralight, ultra-packable mattress. It is part of the Fast and Light© series from Therma-a-Rest. It features internal baffling that utilizes a patent-pending "Triangular Core Matrix" to minimize air movement and convective cooling when inflated. Shaving off ounces and increasing the warmth factor, this mattress also incorporates a patent-pending internal reflective barrier that reflects heat back to the body. To save space, these big features pack down to the size of a 1-liter bottle for the space-conscious adventurer.

15
Aug
2011
jloomis

REI Sub Kilo +20 Sleeping Bag Review

Product Rating: 
5
REI Sub Kilo +20 Sleeping Bag

Features:

The REI Sub Kilo +20 sleeping bag is a 3-season mummy bag for ultralight adventures. It features a contoured hood, roomy footbox, full-length locking zipper, full-length draft tube and muffler. There is an internal pocket for storing small items like a headlamp or watch. Pad loops provide attachment points to keep your sleeping bag and pad together. Comes with a stuff sack and large cotton storage sack.

14
Aug
2011
jloomis

Climbing the Matternhorn and Sacajawea Peak - Wallowa Mountains, Oregon

That Matterhorn from Unnamed Peak

After hiking to Ice Lake and spending Saturday night, Matt and I woke up at 3 AM Sunday to climb the Matterhorn and Sacajawea Peak. The Matterhorn is the second tallest peak in the Wallowa Mountains at 9,826 feet. Sacajawea Peak is the tallest at 9,838 feet. The West face of the Matterhorn (not the side we climbed) rises steeply about 3,200 feet above Hurricane Creek. The easiest route (and our chosen route) starts from Ice Lake.

13
Aug
2011
jloomis

Ice Lake Backpacking and Fishing - Eagle Cap Wilderness, Oregon

Ice Lake - Eagle Cap Wilderness, Oregon

Instead of climbing Mount Shuksan in Northern Washington, Matt and I went backpacking in the Eagle Cap Wilderness to Ice Lake. Ice Lake is located in the North Central part of the Wallowa Mountains in Eastern Oregon. It is a productive 46 acre Brook Trout lake sitting at approximately 7,849 feet in elevation with a depth over 190 feet (deepest lake in the Wallowas).

12
Aug
2011
jloomis

Climbing Mount Shuksan Fisher Chimney Route, Washington

Mount Shuksan from Artist Point Trail - Photo by Frank Kovalchek

Matt and I planned to meet up with Ryan (a new climbing companion) in Northern Washington on Friday evening before heading to the Lake Ann trailhead to climb Mount Shuksan via the Fisher Chimney route. Mount Shuksan is 9,131 feet tall and lies within the North Cascades National Park. It's about 6 miles East of Mount Baker and 12 miles South of the Canadian border. Mount Shuksan is a glaciated massif (non-volcanic) in the Cascade Range formed by tectonic plate collision.

08
Aug
2011
jloomis

Tikka T3 Lite Stainless Rifle Review

Product Rating: 
5
Tikka T3 Lite Stainless Rifle

Features:

The Tikka T3 Lite Stainless rifle offers incredible out-of-the-box accuracy (guaranteed 1" MOA at 100 yards), silky smooth operation and uncompromising reliability. It's based on a two locking lug T3 all-weather action. The metal parts are made of Sako's high-grade stainless steel. The free-floating barrel rests in a composite stock. The single-column detachable magazine holds 3 rounds of 7 mm Rem. Mag. ammo. The T3 Lite features a single-stage trigger with adjustable pull from 2-4 pounds (1-2 Kg). It's supplied without open sights, but does include scope rings.

08
Aug
2011
jloomis

Leupold VX-3 3.5-10x40mm CDS Rifle Scope Review

Product Rating: 
5
Leupold VX-3 CDS Rifle Scope

Features:

Leupold pushed everything to the limit when designing the VX®-3 rifle scope. It features drastically improved optical performance, mechanical function, and durability. With the Custom Dial System (CDS) the VX-3 can be precisely matched to your rifle's ballistics. The VX-3 features Xtended Twilight Lens System™, DiamondCoat 2™ lens coatings, blackened lens edges, tactile power indicator, cryogenically treated, ¼-MOA click windage and elevation adjustments with resettable pointer dials, lockable extreme fast-focus eyepiece, and is completely waterproof.