FULL VIDEOS HERE! After 8 months waiting for the snow to melt, I am finally back on the Tahoe-Yosemite Trail! Today's hike was a gap-filler to complete the footage of my last Section (which I could not capture because my batteries died) - and to show an alternate TYT route to begin Section 4 from … Continue reading Hiking The Original Tahoe-Yosemite Trail (Days 9b-10a): Alternate Route from Lake Alpine
FULL VIDEOS HERE! Section 3: Hwy 88 to Hwy 4 Finally getting to this section involved several challenges. Between record-breaking snow one year and a 4-month heatwave the next, it took me over a year to finally get back on the TYT. The weather was perfect (highs in the 60's and lows predicted in the … Continue reading Hiking The Original Tahoe-Yosemite Trail (Days 6-9): Carson Pass to Lake Alpine
In conjunction with my Go Bag Video, here is a list to help you plan what packs to use and gear to bring as you create your EDC / Emergency bag system. Note that this is a additive modular system. It is assumed that items from the one bag will be added to items in … Continue reading Go Bag Gear List
In "My Gear" part 3, I go over my sleep system: the UGQ Bandit quilt, the Nemo Tensor sleep pad, and the Trekology Aluft pillow. FULL VIDEO HERE!
After an arduous selection process, miles of testing, and hours of YouTube gear reviews, I have finally done it. I have chosen my Camino backpack! Video HERE!
The Mountainsmith Zerk 40 is fairly new on the scene, and it has some unique features created by Tom Gathman ("The Real Hiking Viking"). It's a frameless "fast pack" / "peak bagger" boasting eight reachable external pockets in addition to its large back mesh. Weighing in at under 2 lbs., this pack is designed for … Continue reading Going BerZERK on the Camino!
"How big should my backpack be?" is a regular question for new backpackers and Camino pilgrims. Unfortunately, replies can include assumptions about terminology and measurements that can lead to faulty decisions. HERE I clear up three common misunderstandings made in discussions of backpack sizing.
The struggle is real. As I wrote about in My Pack, my Camino gear journey began with the gift of the Osprey Exos 38. On paper, this was the perfect Camino pack - it seemed to work just fine on my first test hike, and held my gear perfectly on my first pack test. The … Continue reading Shopping for My Camino Backpack (Again)
It probably sounds crazy to even suggest taking a 60 Liter backpack on the Camino, and for good reason: They have too much space! They cost too much! They weight too much! Or do they??? Today's inexpensive, high quality, expandable backpacks are making such a choice a lot more reasonable. HERE I look at two … Continue reading A 60 Liter Backpack for the Camino???
I finally had to admit that my Camino backpack - the excellent Osprey Exos 38 - was not the correct size. HERE I explain how to avoid this happening to you!
Backcountry Pilgrim 