By Sport
A few words about ‘The Climbing Dictionary’
December 12, 2011I’m a Johnny-climb-lately. After moving to the Adirondacks, I spent most of my outdoors time hiking, backcountry skiing, or paddling. I had no interest in rock climbing—until I finally tried it a few years back. I quickly discovered there’s a lot to learn apart from the techniques of...
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Review of Kahtoola Microspikes
November 4, 2011If you do much hiking in early winter or spring, consider investing in a pair of Microspikes. They’re ideal for traveling on trails covered in hard-packed snow and ice. In the shoulder seasons, the trails often lack enough snow for snowshoes but are too slippery for plain boots. In such...
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Skier’s Backcountry Bible
November 3, 2011In 1987, David Goodman got a dream job for a ski bum trying to survive as a freelance writer: the Appalachian Mountain Club hired him to write a guidebook for backcountry skiing in New England. The following year the club published Classic Backcountry Skiing: A Guide to the Best Ski Tours in...
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Madshus Epoch backcountry skis
November 4, 2011One day in early April, when the temperature climbed into the forties, people were walking around Saranac Lake in T-shirts, dreaming of summer. It was perfect weather for testing a new pair of skis. Sue Bibeau, the designer for the Adirondack Explorer, and I did a round trip to Klondike Notch...
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Northern Forest Canoe Trail guidebook
November 4, 2011The Northern Forest Canoe Trail is a paradox. It’s been around forever, but it was “completed” just four years ago. Whatever, we’re glad it exists. The NFCT is a 740-mile water trail that follows Native American paddling routes. It starts in Old Forge and ends in northern Maine, after...
Read moreAn app for the Adirondack High Peaks
You and a friend finally reach the summit of Gothics, take in the glorious view, and begin to wonder what the names are of all the peaks around you. So your friend whips out an iPhone and starts tapping the screen. Is he calling the local forest ranger for answers? Not if he has installed Read the Rest…
4 Comments »A few words about ‘The Climbing Dictionary’
I’m a Johnny-climb-lately. After moving to the Adirondacks, I spent most of my outdoors time hiking, backcountry skiing, or paddling. I had no interest in rock climbing—until I finally tried it a few years back. I quickly discovered there’s a lot to learn apart from the techniques of actual climbing: rope management, gear placement, belaying, Read the Rest…
No Comments »OR shirt a good base layer for skiers
For backcountry ski trips, I usually wear three tops: a base layer for wicking away perspiration, a fleece jacket for insulation, and a shell for keeping out moisture and wind. (I also carry a down jacket in my pack.) As I warm up, I remove layers as needed. When I first started skiing, I experimented Read the Rest…
1 Comment »Review of La Sportiva Karakorum boots
A few years ago, I was asked to test a pair of La Sportiva Karakorum boots. They’re cool-looking boots, but they struck me at first as almost too rugged for ordinary hiking. I wondered what use I could put them to in the Adirondacks. Then it hit me: slide climbing. La Sportiva bills the Karakorums Read the Rest…
1 Comment »Madshus Epoch backcountry skis
One day in early April, when the temperature climbed into the forties, people were walking around Saranac Lake in T-shirts, dreaming of summer. It was perfect weather for testing a new pair of skis. Sue Bibeau, the designer for the Adirondack Explorer, and I did a round trip to Klondike Notch in the High Peaks Read the Rest…
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