Backpacker Sierra Challenge Article

The August Backpacker magazine is out and it features a photo essay on the 2011 Sierra Challenge by Michael Darter. There are lots of awesome pics made more awesome by the fact that 5 include me (even if one is a repeat in the table of contents and I am a dot in another). Still it is pretty dang cool. Check it out. (page 78 to 83 or so - titled "Summit Fever")

The first page - note yours truly representing with the
Yogaslacker shirt in the upper left

update: they have now posted some online... http://www.backpacker.com/2012-august-sierra-challenge/destinations/16772

Meanwhile I have been hiking and peak bagging in the Sierra again. I can pretend I am training for the 2012 Sierra Challenge although I fear that no matter what I do the actual challenge will be quite challenging. Hopefully I can get more trip reports finished up.

Here is one for the Mount Whitney Mountaineers Route...

trip report for scrambling up the Mount Whitney Mountaineers Route

R.I.P. Inov-8 roclite 390 boots

RIP Inov-8 roclite 390s, thanks for all the miles

I don't usually talk about the death of a pair of boots, but these have been a faithful companion of mine for many many miles, both horizontally and vertically. I first got them for the Montana TMF back in 2008. This sufferfest was lovingly called 4 days - 4 ways to die. Despite not really being appropriate for steep icy snow (with 10 point crampons) or class IV packrafting or biking, they worked quite well. Since then I took them on many many trips. They were my only footwear for a few months on the East Coast. At some point one of the laces frayed something awful. When I got a pair of their lighter cousins the roclite 295s in 2010 these were put on the back burner, but I still used them a bit. Then after the horrendous thrashing the 295s took in the 2011 Sierra Challenge I dusted these off, stuck in a new lace and used them for a few more Sierra trips. I was reminded of how comfy they were and how well they climbed (up to 5.7 on Mt Clarence King). This last 6 day trip up Mt Williamson among others finally did them in. The gore-tex liner wore out under the forefoot (which actually let out a lot of powdery grit that had accumulated there), and the final kicker was the sole actually wore out in the middle of the foot. Before that happened I was still planning on how I was going to seam-grip them again and head back out. Alas the holes in the soles sealed the deal. I will miss them greatly.

a very well worn boot sole