I recently had the privilege of backpacking with my 12-year-old son and 16 other members of his Boy Scout troop on the Skyline-to-Sea-Trail, located on California’s Central Coast. (For a detailed description of this trail, go to http://adventure16.com/skylintosea_dest.html ).

I have backpacked off and on over the past 20 years, but this trip was a standout!  The trail was jaw-dropping gorgeous, the weather was perfect, the scouts and other adults all got along great, but best of all, all my gear REALLY performed!

CLOTHING
Ice Breaker Superfine 140 Tech T Lite:  I wore this shirt as a base layer the entire time.  It was light, comfortable and breathable and did not have any unpleasant odor at the end of the six days.

Ice Breaker Bodyfit 260 Tech Top:  The first day of the trip I wore a lightweight fleece pullover, which I constantly took off and put on as we hiked in and out of shade and sun.  After that, I put on the Ice Breaker Bodyfit 260, in place of the fleece.  What a difference!  It kept me warm when it was cool and cool when the temperatures got warmer.  In fact, once I put it on, I never took it off!  The thumb loops kept my hands warm—especially handy when we were filtering ice-cold water!  This piece also did not take on any unpleasant odors, which is more than I can say for the cotton and synthetic garments my companions were wearing!

The North Face Paramount Porter Convertible Pants: The DWR (durable water repellent) finish on these pants worked like magic repelling dirt, food, water, poison oak and anything else that was slung at them. They were durable, extremely comfortable and still looked great at the end of the week. 

Marmot Ama Dablam Down Jacket:  This 650+ fill goose down jacket, with a hood and fleece-lined pockets, was lightweight and exceptionally warm. It doubled quite comfortably as a pillow at night.

FOOTWEAR
Lowa Jannu Low Boots:  Except to go to sleep, I never took these boots off–they were that comfortable.  They had excellent traction up slippery, muddy hills and offered great support keeping my feet, legs and back from becoming fatigued. And (thanks to my awesome boot fit at Adventure 16) they fit me like a glove.

Smartwool Socks:  My feet never felt sweaty or uncomfortable.  These socks did an excellent job of keeping my feet cool and dry.

GEAR
Gregory Jade 50 Backpack: Although this lightweight, (3 lbs, 2 oz), 50-liter women’s pack was probably a bit small for the length of my trip, it worked out great.  The small, lightweight size forced me to leave behind extra stuff that I really didn’t need:  camp shoes, spare flashlight, over-kill items in my first aid kit, hot chocolate, extra clothes and a roomier tent.  Overall, I carried between 25 to 28 pounds— the lightest load I’ve ever experienced on a backpacking trip. I’m now hooked on this notion of lightweight backpacking.

The mesh back panel on this pack was fabulous!  It held the pack away from my back, allowing noticeable air and cool breezes to flow through.  The ventilated harness and waist belt wicked away moisture.  The padding was very comfortable, as well.  This is hands-down the most comfortable pack I’ve ever worn!

Sierra Designs Lightyear Tent: I was a bit skeptical at first about taking such a small tent, but the capacity of my pack did not allow for anything larger. This one-person tent has a trail weight of only 2 pounds, 11 ounces and stuffed easily into the back outside pouch of my Gregory Jade 50 pack.  It was surprisingly spacious and extremely quick and easy to set up.

Marmot 15 degree Angel Fire Sleeping Bag: This 600-fill women’s specific bag weighed 2 pounds, 10 ounces and was worth its weight in gold. It was cozy, comfortable and warm even on the chilliest night at Sunset Trail Camp when the wind was howling and the air was damp and very cold.

Black Diamond Spire Compact Trekking Poles: As the only female on this trip, I knew everyone was secretly wondering if I would hold them up. No way! Whenever the going got rough and my legs felt tired, I dug in my poles and engaged my upper body to take over part of the load.  On steep downhill sections, the poles were knee savers.  This is one piece of backpacking gear I’ll never again go without.

Putting these products to the test was almost as fun as the hike itself. Clothes that don’t stink? A backpack that feels comfortable? Boots that still feel good after mile 5?  Seemed too good to be true. Turns out the gear performed not only as promised, but above and beyond my expectations, as well. And since I didn’t have to worry about my gear, I was free to simply enjoy the trip!  I look forward to going again with my son’s scout troop (if he invites me of course) to see what other gear I can put to the test.

If you want to submit your own photo, e-mail us your images to a16photos@gmail.com with your name, location and where you took the photo.

Last week’s storm brought enough snow to open one of Southern California’s snowshoe destinations.

Long Valley, the area at the top of the Palm Springs Tramway near Mt. San Jacinto received 12-18 inches of snow and is suitable for snowshoeing. The Adventure Center will open Friday Dec. 14 for snowshoe and gear rentals.

Rim Nordic in the San Bernardino Mountains only received six inches of snow and is not yet open.

Green Valley Nordic will be closed this season due to damage caused by the recent fires.

Your local Adventure 16 store has a full line of showshoes for purchase. You can also rent snowshoes at an Adventure 16 store. Get more info on gear rentals here.

If you want to submit your own photo, e-mail us your images to a16photos@gmail.com with your name, location and where you took the photo.

I’m starting to notice more and more backpackers carrying camera equipment into the backcountry. I can’t blame them. Sometimes it’s hard to describe some of the beautiful places you’ve been. It’s also nice to be able to look back at the many adventures you’ll go on in a lifetime.

Taking a good photo is easy. Taking an amazing photo can be tough. To help you take a better photo the next time you’re in the backcountry, I got some tips from Stephen Matera, a professional landscape photographer who works with companies including Sierra Designs, MSR, Mountainsmith and Cloudveil.

Matera, 38, of Seattle, is an avid hiker and backpacker who spends most of his time shooting in the Northwest, Alaska and occasionally in the Southwest. Matera spoke to us on the phone in between winter photo shoots to give us these quick tips on taking a good landscape photo.
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There are no big peaks in the park. No majestic waterfalls. And no deep canyons. The draw to this small park that sits in the shadow of Morro’s rock is the park’s seclusion and the serenity of watching waves crash into the rocky bluffs that makes the Central Coast so famous.

This is one of the few places in Southern California where you can sit on top of a desert-like dune and soak in the views of a dense forest and a beautiful beach at the same time.

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If you want to submit your own photo, e-mail us your images to a16photos@gmail.com with your name, location and where you took the photo.

Thankfully the folks at Platypus have an FAQ on how to clean out and disinfect a bladder. Basically you can wash it, boil it or use household bleach to disinfect the bladder. The same techniques can be used to clean out MSR Dromedary bags too.

Here are some easy steps to making your bladder squeaky clean:
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In response to the terrible oil leak into the San Francisco Bay area and the nearby waters, a portion of every race entry will be donated to Save the Bay to protect and restore the damaged San Fran Bay area.

The event is hosted by Dean Karnazes, the renowned ultra-marathoner who ran 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days.

For more info on the race, go here.

If you want to submit your own photo, e-mail us your images to a16photos@gmail.com with your name, location and where you took the photo.