Erik Lambert
Black Diamond Firstlight Tent: Bombproof, Featherweight
Early this summer I began testing the Black Diamond Firstlight Tent, from the Vedauwoo desert to the alpine flanks of the Grand Teton. I was pleased with its versatility–it seemed the perfect tent for any summer conditions. That worried me. The ultra-lightweight, single-wall shelter is marketed as a four-season favorite, but I feared how it would fare against the wintry precipitation and cold so common from October through April in the Rocky Mountain West. Yet now, in the middle of November, having weathered significant snowstorms and cold rainstorms in the Firstlight, I’m eager to sack up in this dome no matter the forecast.
A Tribute to Bob Bates
Alpinist’s tribute to Robert Hicks Bates, 96, relentless first ascensionist, member of the “Harvard Five,” former president of the American Alpine Club, honorary member of the 10th Mountain Division and all-around upstanding citizen.
