2013 Ouray Ice Festival - Ice Climbing Clinics

As a follow up to our recent post about Josh Wharton's lessons learned while ice climbing in the Canadian Rockies, we wanted to highlight the 2013 Ouray Ice Festival.

One of the best ways to get into a new sport, especially one as intimidating and potentially dangerous as ice climbing, is to attend a clinic run by experienced professionals.

Organized by San Juan Mountain Guides, the Ouray Ice Festival is a great place to get into the sport, with clinics that are very well priced ($49 for half-day) and guides who are billed as "The Local Experts."


Located near the picturesque mountain town of Telluride, the 5-day festival offers a perfect opportunity right after New Years to get away to the Colorado mountains for some skiing, Telluride nightlife, and a day or two (or a full 5) of ice climbing.

Add ice climbing to your New Year's resolutions and make your way to Ouray!

ExOfficio Travel Clothing

Founded in 1987 on the premise of creating fashionable and functional travel clothing, ExOfficio continues to innovate fabrics and garments across a number of different activities that are perfect for the active traveler.

Specializing in insect repellent, sun protective, and durable travel clothing, ExOfficio divides their clothing offerings across the following categories:

• Backpacking
• Camping
• Fishing
• Safari
• Adventure
• Hiking
• Travel
• Outdoor

I have definitely fallen in love with ExOfficio's Give-N-Go underwear, a line of undershirts and underwear that are wicking, quick-drying, and odor repellent. 

If you're going for a nomad trek but want to keep your pack light, Give-N-Go underwear is perfect - it can be washed in a sink or a shower, hung on a pack strap, and dries in hours. Give-N-Go are also great for high output activities such as hiking and biking, wicking sweat while remaining incredibly comfortable.

Get out and travel comfortable!

The Adventurists

If you're looking for a fun adventure, have a bit of time on your hands, and don't mind stepping out past "safe," you need to meet the Adventurists.

Their motto is "Fighting to Make the World Less Boring," and they seem to be doing just that. Using zany adventures to raise money for charities, the Adventurists have come up with (and continue to come up with) a number of wacky-but-incredibly-fun-looking events, including:

• Mongol Rally - 10,000 mile race in compact cars, from England to Mongolia.
• Mototaxi Junket - 3-wheeled madness across Peru.
• The Ice Run - A race across Siberia. In the heart of winter.
• Rickshaw Run - Across India in their ubiquitous form of transportation: the rickshaw.

A line of rickshaws in the midst of the Run

Find your adventure and travel for a good cause.

Alpine Lessons in the Canadian Rockies - Video

Enjoy the incredible scenery as Patagonia ambassador Josh Wharton ice climbs in the Canadian Rockies, plus hear some of the lessons Josh learned while tackling the Emperor Face on Mount Robson and the Wild Thing on Mount Chephren.

Pack Up and Kayak

What could possibly be better than hiking or kayaking? Hiking and kayaking.

While the premise might sound ridiculous unless done in distinct stages, Folbot Inc. is doing its best to make combining the two as effortless as possible. The company's unique line of folding kayaks are all designed to fit into a bag and be easily transportable, making them ideal for travel.

Folbot kayak frame

Now, the idea of heading out on a "hiking and fishing trip" could just as easily be a "hiking and kayaking trip." Folbot's range of kayaks can accommodate a number of different body types and activities, ranging from recreational outings to expeditions, and all of them fold up and fit into a bag for easy transport.

Gearjunkie.com has a great write-up of Folbot's Cooper kayak, a 16'6" long day-touring kayak that only weights 39 pounds and can fold into a backpack: Full-Size Kayak folds up, Fits in Backpack

With that kind of mobility, a half-day hike coupled with a half-day paddle is certainly not out of the question!

Polartec's New "Alpha" Synthetic Insulation

Polartec, in response to requests from US Army Special Operations Forces (SOF), has created a new, highly breathable synthetic insulation fabric called "Alpha." The need for a synthetic insulation that would maintain the benefits insulated garments provide, without the so-called "vapor barrier" created by the tightly woven exterior fabrics used to encase high loft insulators, led to the emergence Alpha. 

The value of breathable fabrics during rigorous activity is that they allow for a cooling airflow to balance increased body heat and sweat output that occurs during activity, while maintaining wind and moisture protection. According to the company, "Polartec Alpha provides active warmth that allows air exchange for breathability and comfort in more dynamic situations."

A number of well-known outfitters have already adopted Alpha, including Eddie Bauer, Marmot, Montane, Rab, and The North Face.

Read more: Polartec Introduces Polartec Alpha and Redefines Synthetic Insulation

Planning for International Customs in Your Itinerary

Often when traveling, we enter our target country through a city other than our final destination. One thing we can easily forget is to leave time in our travel itinerary to retrieve our bags, pass through Customs and Immigration, and then recheck our bags before continuing on to our journey's end.

Especially if you are booking your own travel, a good rule of thumb is to allow 4 hours minimum between when your international flight lands and when your connecting domestic flight departs.

Packing Tip: Leave the Passport Lanyard at Home

In this day in age, with all the regulations and heightened security that go hand in hand with travel, keeping track of your passport, bank cards, hotel reservations, cash, and itinerary is usually at the forefront of everyone's mind.

However, one negative side effect of our preoccupation with keeping track of all these important documents is that we immediately mark ourselves as tourists, a sure-fire way to be hassled by vendors and given a "special tourist price" in many locales.

To better blend in with the scenery and give some other sucker a chance to be "taken for a ride," consider some of the following tips:

1. Leave the passport lanyard and waist bag/fanny pack at home. Instead, carry a handbag, shoulder bag, or small backpack (~5 to 20L volume).
2. Try to avoid wearing your camera on a lanyard around your neck, it screams, "I don't have any idea what's going on, but if something camera-worthy should appear, I'll be ready."
3. Business casual, rather than "vacation chic" will help you blend in more. You may be visiting a place where blending in is almost an impossibility, but at least your choice of clothing can give the appearance of someone who is there for a reason, rather than someone who is there to be taken advantage of.
4. Move with purpose in busy places such as train depots and airport parking lots. Even if you don't have plan of what to do, sitting around discussing it within earshot of eager vendors will make you an easy target for a scam or unreasonably high prices. It is very likely in most places around the world that locals offering services at such gathering places will be multi-lingual and will understand your whole conversation, taking away your bargaining edge.

Camelbak and Black Diamond Equipment both make a line of small backpacks with convenient pockets, which allow for safe stowage of important documents, as well as room for a few other small items.

All of Mountain Khakis' men's pants come equipped with a hidden 2nd pocket on the right hand side, which lies close to the hip and is perfect for passports and a money clip. For gentlemen who prefer more active travel or who are headed somewhere tropical, the Mountain Khaki Granite Creek pants have a zippered 2nd right hip pocket for added security and a zippered pocket on the left thigh as well, and have proven very convenient and reliable for me when I travel.

Pacsafe has a full line of travel-related bags and accessories which are incredibly well thought out. Particularly noteworthy are their women's hand bags and purses, which feature slash-proof straps and integrated RFID blocking technology, among other security features, while giving consideration to aesthetics rather than strictly utilitarian design.


Victorinox carries a line of travel products to help organize your documents easily, and none is better designed than the aptly-named Travel Organizer. This slim folder has enough pockets to carry all of your necessary travel, hotel, and banking information, yet can slip easily into a handbag or backpack.


Set yourself up for success by traveling wisely.

Insulated Mid-Layer

Mountain Hardwear Compressor

Now that the cold of winter is approaching, it is time to start pulling out your cold weather gear.

As you look over your arsenal of jackets, sweaters, and fleeces arrayed to fend off the chill, here is one thought to consider: over the past few years, an insulated mid-layer has been one of the most versatile and useful pieces in my collection.

Like down, synthetic insulation provides warm primarily by virtue of its loft, or in other terms, they're warm because they're puffy. However, an insulated mid-layer has a few distinct advantages over down:

• First, synthetic insulation continues to insulate and trap heat even when wet. This is particularly useful when you are in the outdoors because you can leave your waterproof layer at home unless you absolutely need it, without fear of a cold drizzle or extended snowfall dampening your spirits and your down jacket.

• Second, insulated mid-layers can usually pack down very small, often into one of their own pockets or a stuff sack, which makes them very convenient to throw in your rucksack or suitcase. The warmth-to-packability is much higher than that of fleece.

Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket packed into its own pocket

• Third, insulated mid-layers can easily slip on over fleece or even wool, allowing you to layer with a level of efficiency that is difficult with only fleece layers. 

• Fourth, an insulated mid-layer can also fit well under a more robust outer layer, such as a down jacket, soft shell, or traditional hard shell jacket, allowing for significant added warmth in conjunction with the benefits of the chosen outer layer.

REI Women's Revelcloud Jacket

Arc'teryx Atom LT Pullover

• Fifth, synthetic insulation is not as high loft (puffy) as most down pieces, which makes it less conspicuous and therefore more appealing to many for wearing in casual situations.

For the avid outdoors-folk, this timely article from Gearjunkie.com gives even more credence to the merits of synthetic insulation - Outerwear for Warmth, Survival on extreme Wilderness Trips

So bulk up your winter wardrobe with an insulated mid-layer and get out and travel!

Safety and Situational Awareness - Video

Travel can take us to exciting, new places - places we're compelled to explore, places we can't wait to experience. Ninety-nine times out of 100, the trip turns out just as we hoped it would, from beginning to end. We come away refreshed, invigorated, and enthusiastic about the next time we'll be able to steal away for another excursion.

However, it only takes the slightest unforeseen event to quickly remind you that you are in an unfamiliar environment, which, if unprepared, can lead to panic. 

All three of the following resources provide valuable insight to help you make your travels as safe as possible, no matter what might arise:

Planning Your Escape Route - This is a good article to consider when planning hiking trips and outdoor expeditions.

A Practical Guide to Situational Awareness - A bit more in-depth and probably overkill for most travelers, this Stratfor article gives a comprehensive overview of situational awareness, which is particularly valuable for international travelers.

See China By Rail

For the budget or adventure-minded traveler, seeing China by train is a great choice. China's rail system is extensive and almost any destination can be achieved, at a fraction of the price of airfare.

Both of the following websites offer expedient search capabilities for all of the train routes in China:

CNVOL - Search by cities or by train number; also, a convenient drop-down menu aids in locating train ticketing offices in 32 of China's most commonly traveled cities.

Travel China Guide - This travel agency website also provides reliable searching by city or train number, as well as a ticket availability search.

In addition:

12306 - This is China Railway Ministry's online ticketing site, but it is only in Chinese at this point. If you choose to reserve tickets through this site, tickets must still be picked up at a ticketing office and a valid passport be provided.


Finally, once you do procure your tickets, you may still have trouble reading them. See the image below for a helpful guide to what your ticket actually says:

Packing Tip: Grab a Jacket

When packing your bag for your next outing, don't forget to throw in a light jacket, even if you are going somewhere tropical. Especially if you are going somewhere tropical.

One common oversight, especially when going somewhere warm, is to neglect any sort of a long-sleeved layer. Even if the forecast looks great and the weather is sweltering when the sun is up, there might be a breeze when you take your dog out for his morning walk or a nip in the air on your evening ferry boat ride to the next island over.

A light piece like a soft shell or windbreaker should be sufficient to fend off a mid-afternoon shower or the nip in the air that creeps in after sunset, and you'll definitely appreciate having made space in your bag!

The Duke's - Chiang Mai

If your travels take you through the mountains of northern Thailand, make sure to stop into any one of The Duke's three Chiang Mai locations (as of this posting). Touting itself as home to "American steak, ribs, seafood, and pizza," The Duke's always delivers.

A casual sit-down atmosphere, the Duke's is a great place to unwind after a jungle trek or Flight of the Gibbon zipline excursion, or as a preliminary to the famous Chiang Mai Night Bazaar. The ribs are certainly worth mentioning, but all of the entrees are done well and worth a try.

Originally opened in 2005, The Duke's first location overlooks the river from the east side, just south of Tha Pae Rd., while the second location is in the heart of the Night Bazaar, only a few blocks away on Loi Kroh Rd, east of the Chiang Mai old town wall.

Recently, a third location has opened just across the canal from the Tha Pae (East) Gate, pursuing more of a "grill and diner" feel. The menu is complete with onion rings, malt shakes, fries, hot dogs, and delicious lemonade - a nice respite from the Thailand heat.

In case you can't find The Duke's, give them a call: +66 5324 9231

Arc'teryx's New "Face Fabric"

Arc'teryx has just announced the release of a new exterior fabric material, developed in partnership with Gore & Associates, called "N80p-X."

While the name might sound a bit pretentious, if not overly technical, a partnership between W.L. Gore and Arc'teryx is certain to have resulted in a top quality product. One of the touted benefits of this new "face fabric" is a stronger complimentary relationship between Arc'teryx's exterior fabric and Gore's waterproof membrane. Some of N80p-X's other proposed benefits include:

• Increased durability and abrasion resistance,
• Enduring smooth face and water shedding ability,
• Longer breathability and reduced heat loss that normally result from wear and tear.

To read more from Arc'teryx about their new fabric: N80P-X Exterior Fabric - The Science of High Performance