Climmbing for…Puzzlement?
Puzzled instead of surprised because it’s becoming increasingly obvious with every passing month that that is precisely what climbing is becoming…
The Journey
I’m believer in positive thinking. But in August I found myself wondering about the disconnect between believing in the bright side and giving it lip service. On a trip to the Lotus Flower Tower in Canada’s Cirque of the Unclimbables, Ian Altman and his multiple sclerosis showed me how unyielding persistence can bridge this gap.
Montbell Permafrost Down Parka: Little Red Jacket That Could
I also fall fate to being one of the most cold-challenged alpine guides in the Canadian Rockies, so when given the opportunity to test the MontBell Permafrost Down Parka I couldn’t really refuse!
Greed and the Nanny-State Mating Again
Apparently, the American public’s inability to take any risks that don’t involve processed foods has now expanded into a realm so close to the beloved and historic Tetons that my only recourse is to weep silently and shake my fist in impotent rage at the bastard love child of greed and the nanny state. It’s an ugly child.
La Sportiva Batura Boots: Comfort and Performance
La Sportiva has created another fine technical boot with the new Batura. I’ve used the Nuptse in the Himalaya, the Nepal Top all over the North Cascades and Ouray, the Trango Ice Evo and Women’s Trango Evo GTX in Patagonia and at home in the San Juans. I’ve been happy with all of these La Sportiva models, which tend to fit narrow feet, like mine, especially well. I’m psyched on the new Batura because it fills the gap between the warmth of the Nuptse, as a quasi-double boot, and the technical performance of the Nepal Top or Evo. Its weight-to-warmth ratio sets it apart from the pack of other boots I’ve used over the years.