Another great Backcountry recipe from "Chef Glenn"

Ratatouille

Want to add a little cuisine francaise to your backpacking menu? Ratatouille is a traditional French dish of stewed summer vegetables featuring eggplant, onions, peppers, zucchini, and tomatoes—perfectly seasoned with garlic and herbs. Enjoy Ratatouille as a main course or combine with rice. Bon appétit!

Ingredients:

• 1 eggplant, diced
• 4 tsp olive oil
• 2 onions, diced
• 1 red pepper, diced
• 1 yellow pepper, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, smashed
• 1 tsp fennel seeds
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tsp Herbes de Provence or dried thyme
• 2 small zucchini, diced
• 2 cups fresh tomatoes or 14.5 OZ can, diced

At Home:
Peel the eggplant. Before dicing, cut the eggplant diagonally into half inch slices. Squeeze or press eggplant slices gently between paper towels to remove excess liquid which can taste slightly bitter. Dice eggplant and other vegetables into small pieces. If you were not planning to dehydrate this meal you would cut the vegetables into larger pieces.
In a large, non-stick skillet, heat the oil and sauté onions until translucent. Add garlic, peppers, fennel, bay leaves, and thyme or Herbes de Provence*, and sauté until peppers are soft.
*Herbes de Provence can be found in the spice section of most grocery stores and typically contains rosemary, marjoram, basil, bay leaf, and thyme. If you can't find it, just use thyme.
Add eggplant and sauté until it turns golden.
Add zucchini and sauté for another five minutes.
Add diced tomatoes, salt and pepper to taste, and turn the heat down to a simmer. Simmer for about 15 minutes, until the tomatoes cook down.
I reward myself with a serving right out of the skillet and refrigerate the rest overnight to allow the flavors to fully absorb into the vegetables.
Dehydrate:
Spread vegetables out in a single layer on dehydrator trays covered with non-stick sheets. Midway through the drying process you can break-up any vegetables that are stuck together.
Dehydrate at 135 degrees for approximately 10 hours. You can speed up the drying process by starting out at 145 degrees for the first two hours. Drying times may be longer for some dehydrators. Vegetables will be leathery when done with no moisture appearing when you cut into a piece.
Store in an air-tight container for longest shelf life. Place in zip-lock bags for trail use.
On the Trail:
Combine one cup Ratatouille with one cup water in your pot and rehydrate for five to ten minutes. For larger servings, just add equal parts of Ratatouille and water.
Heat until nice and warm. It is not necessary to maintain a boil. I use less than ½ ounce of alcohol in my homemade backpacking stove to prepare this meal. Total cook time is six to eight minutes.
Transfer pot to an insulating cozy for another ten minutes where your meal will continue to rehydrate.
To enjoy this meal with rice, combine ½ cup Ratatouille, ½ cup instant rice, and one cup water. Bring to a boil and simmer for a minute or two. Transfer pot to cozy for ten minutes.
I hope you enjoy Ratatouille as much as me. Try another Supper Backpacking Recipe.

Until next time see you UNDER WESTERN SKIES!

  Follow @uwsadventures

Buzz Off!

Yesterday we talked about a few things you can do to avoid being bug bait.  But are there other things than just your clothes or bug repellent?  One of the easiest things you can do to avoid bugs is go someplace they can't!  Ever see the caribou on high ridge lines in the middle of the summer?  Or wonder why the Elk were standing on a mountaintop?  They have the right idea.  Its the wind.  It doesn't take much of a breeze to keep the bugs on the ground or clinging to the bottoms of the leaves in terror (chuckle).....

  When you look for a place to pitch  look for a relatively high spot to place your camp.  Now be careful here you want a place that's just exposed enough that it will get a breeze but not so much it will blow your house down.  You can look for a sheltered spot to place your tent so it doesn't rattle in the wind all night, and then a breezier spot for your camp kitchen since you will be out in the open.  If you are using a cook tarp try stitching a strip of velcro around the perimeter of your tarp.  Buy some bulk mosquito netting and stitch a strip of velcro to that.  After you pitch your tarp you then can hang your mosquito curtain up and be bug free while you eat.  This is nice on those really hot still buggy days in June when there is no wind at all.  It is also relatively light weight.

  Avoid creek bottoms and slow moving water.  Some biting flys breed in these shallow alpine streams so steer clear of them.  Swamps and brackish areas if your on the coast are also areas to avoid.  Pick high and dry spots with good breezes and good views for your next camp and enjoy an evening without the buzzing.

  Until next time....see you UNDER WESTERN SKIES! Follow @uwsadventures

Skeeter Proof!

Skeeter Proof!  Spending many years in Alaska and enduring, at times, bugs of biblical proportions I often get asked how I deal.  If you watch footage of Alaskan natives or any folks who live in buggy areas you will notice that they really dont pay attention to the little beasties.  Easier said than done when they are flying into your dinner pot and every spoonful serves up a bug body!  Here are a few ideas.

  Ditch the Deet!  I was 17 years old and a fan of "Jungle Juice"  100 % Deet bug repellent.  In a single day it ate my watch, destroyed my headlamp and took paint off my car.  Thats the day I stopped putting it on my skin.  Research shows us that 35 % deet is just as effective as 100% and lasts almost as long.  If you need to use deet try dousing a handkerchief and tucking it under a ball cap.  This will keep your ears and neck protected.  If you are getting the fly bys in the face try spraying the underside of your ball cap to help thwart mozzies headed for your face.

  A lightweight wind shirt is a lifesaver.  It is a piece of gear you will probably have with you anyway and the nylon is woven tightly enough to keep the bugs from drilling through.  Check out the UWS Pinterest page for some ideas.

  Hoods are good.  Its one more barrier to get through on really buggy days.  If its too hot though try the bandanna method above.  When you are shopping for trail pants look for pants that have a really tight weave.  Hold it up to the light and if you can see between the weave its too light and the bugs will easily bite through.  True it will be warmer and less breathable but choose your own adventure sweaty or bug bitten.  You can always walk slower of jump in the creek to wet your clothes on really hot days.  The same applies to trail shirts.  A tighter weave will offer more wind and sun protection.  Not to mention keeping the biters at bay.

Check in tomorrow and we will have more tips about living with your flying friends.

Until then see you UNDER WESTERN SKIES!

Here is some great information from "Chef Glen" Over at Backpackingchef.com

Why I Dehydrate My Own Backpacking Food:
Dehydrating food saves money. If you’re in a hurry to get on the trail, you may gladly pay the higher prices of pre-packaged meals, but if you can plan ahead, you’ll save money following my recipes or your own at home. Each one of my backpacking recipes cooks up for less than $2. In contrast, a pre-packaged meal from Enertia Trail Foods will run you $4.25, and Mountain House freeze-dried meals will set you back $6 to $7.25.
Prepare the right size meals. No one wants to get hungry on the trail, and no one wants to pack out leftovers, but only you know how much food you need. Cooking a meal with ¼ cup dehydrated meat, ¼ cup dehydrated vegetables, and ½ cup instant brown rice or other starch fills me up nicely, but you could easily bump the quantities up or down to suit your appetite. On a backpacking trip to Savage Gulf, Tennessee, two of my hiking friends couldn’t finish their Mountain House meals. I ate the rest of Tina’s Rice & Chicken instead of baking a chocolate chip muffin for dessert, but Gary had to pack out his leftover Lasagna. On that night in Savage Gulf, I dined on Senor Glenn’s Pot ‘O Tacos… beef, black beans, peppers, onions, tomatoes, and rice with a taco-cheese sauce. Muy delicioso!
More veggies, please! Pre-packaged backpacking meals are typically light on veggies and heavy on starches. Backpackers need starches for energy, but I want my veggies, too. Slice or dice vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, and carrots and put them directly into the food dehydrator. Some vegetables such as broccoli benefit from a couple minutes of steaming before dehydrating. With a small amount of home preparation, include healthy portions of colorful, vitamin-rich vegetables in all of your backpacking meals.
Keep out unwanted ingredients. Manufacturers of dried meats and fruits douse their products with preservatives, artificial colors, and flavors. Even Quaker Instant Oatmeal slips you fake strawberries and blueberries with the magic of Red 40 and Blue 2. Flavored rice and noodle products from the grocery store often contain MSG, (mono sodium glutamate for a killer headache) massive amounts of salt, partially hydrogenated oils, and other ingredients that would be easier to pronounce if you had paid attention during chemistry class. Free yourself from chemically engineered food by dehydrating food from Mother Nature and you’ll feel well nourished and healthy on the trail.

Until next time see you UNDER WESTERN SKIES!

What kinds of things do guides carry?  Yesterday we talked about liquid fuel stoves.  They have many benefits but can be a little overkill for the single hiker or traveling in warm weather.  If this is the case consider canned gas stoves.  There are a few great options here MSR, Jetboil, and Snowpeak are just a few.  The plus side is that they are extremely easy to operate, great for kid use, and very lightweight.  Most stoves these days have their own built in ignitor but ALWAYS bring something else to light it with in case the lighter breaks.  Most of the burner units for these stoves are tiny and easily fit in a pocket.  Just add a can of gas for around 3 bucks, a lightweight pot or cup, and head out for a last minute lightweight overnight trip.  For some tips on cooking with a smidgen of fuel check out the fancy finagling with fuel blog here on the UWS blogs.  the downside of the can gas stoves is that you have to throw away that can.  There are some cans which can be recycled after they are punctured.  You may want to do a little research into this if you cringe at throwing good steel or aluminum out.

See you next time UNDER WESTERN SKIES!

What kinds of things does a guide carry in their pack?  How about stoves?  There are tons of choices for stoves these days and you could spend up to two hundred dollars on an expedition type stove if you wanted.  The choices come down to liquid fuel (white gas) or canned fuel (butane/propane/isopropane)  Both have their advantages and disadvantages.  If you have a large group of people and will be cooking for up to four or five, for the weight and efficiency I think its tough to beat a liquid gas stove.  Check out the MSR website for the better choices.  The Dragonfly is a noisy little stove but it simmers well and is practically indestructible.  If you are winter camping or climbing high altitude the liquid stoves are also a better choice for melting snow and cold weather.  If your traveling overseas check out the multifuel stoves.  With these you can burn almost any liquid petroleum based fuel.  Including jet fuel!  Cool!  Stick around for tomorrows chat about canned gas stoves.

Until then,  see you UNDER WESTERN SKIES!

Toot Toot!  All Aboard!  On the last blog we were talking about how to cross rivers safely.  Up to this point we have scouted a good crossing looked for potential obstacles and good exits and entries.  Now its time to get in the drink.  There are several methods to crossing streams and rivers, and it will really depend on how much water is there as to which method you choose.
  Small streams with clear water can simply be walked across with hardly any technique.  Its when you start to get a current involved....well then it can get a little tricky.  Three legs are better than two and if you can find a stout stick, or have trekking poles it will increase your stability in the flow.  Always face upstream and move slowly and deliberately.  Pay attention to your footing.  Don't move forward until you are sure that foot isn't going anywhere.  Make sure you are concentrating on your exit point and avoid looking at the current.  Sometimes that can make you dizzy.  always try to have at least two points of contact with the river bottom three is even better.
  For larger crossings you can try the train method.  This works well for large groups and the more people in line the easier the crossing.  Start by lining up single file along the river.  You may want the most experienced person as the "Engine" and the second person one of the bigger people in the group.  Basically you will be holding on to the persons backpack in front of you to stabilize yourself, and them.  Moving diagonally across the stream with the leader calling out the steps Left Right Left Right and so on.  The people in the front create an eddy for all of those behind.  An Eddy is basically an upriver flow.  The calm spots you see behind large rocks in the river create the same effect.  The last person in line will have the least current.

ALWAYS make sure your hip belt and sternum straps are unbuckled when you enter the river.  If you stumble or trip you can easily eject from your pack instead of going to the bottom that's a sure way to ruin a day!

See you tomorrow with more tips UNDER WESTERN SKIES!

Only fish swim in rivers....right?  Ok, so yesterday we were talking about proper river crossing technique.  We had mentioned that scouting a good crossing is one of the most important things you can do,  looking for wide shallow sections where the current is less swift and the footing good.  Something else to consider is your exit strategy.  How will you get out of the river on the other side?  Will you have to scramble up a steep cutbank?  Crawl through thorn bushes or devils club (that last one is as bad as it sounds)  Or will you be able to stroll merrily on your way.  Look for the easiest entrance and exit from the river. 
  Now you have your spot picked out, no danger downstream, shallow, easy current, good exits and entrance,  all you have to do is walk across right?  Well kinda.  Consider changing into your sandals or crocs for a single crossing in a day.  Keep those dogs dry!  If you are going to be crossing several creeks, streams or rivers in a day best to keep your boots on.  It will save alot of time in the long run and you can always get into your dry camp shoes when your done with the day.
   Stay tuned, tomorrow we will talk about the train method for crossing rivers safely....sound cool?  Just wait and see.
See you tomorrow  Under Western Skies!

People often ask what the most dangerous activities are in the wilderness.  Surprisingly aside from "extreme sports", the most potentially dangerous and often encountered thing in the wilderness are river crossings.  Here are a few tricks to make sure you make it to the other side of the river.

  Always scout your crossings.  Trails seldom if ever cross the river in the best spot!  Take a little time and even take your pack off for a minute to find an easier crossing.  Scout upstream and down.  Look for potential hazards in the river, tricky footing swift currents deep holes etc.  Once you find a good crossing always remember to look downstream several yards.  What kind of obstacles are there?  logjam?, rapids? Niagra Falls?  Always think about where the river will take you if you do loose your footing.

  Rule of thumb:  Wide and shallow narrow and deep.  All the water in the river has to be squeezed through little narrow channels and so the current is often swift and it could be very deep.  Look for wide shallow bends in the river where the water has to slow down and spread out to make the turn.  the footing is often easier and the current less swift.

Join us tomorrow as we talk a little more about river safety.  Until then....see you Under Western Skies!

Num, num, num!  The latest snack idea straight from the UWS cookbook.  Great for a picnic with the kids.

Red bell pepper Bruschetta with Feta

Roasted red pepper pieces (drained and chopped)
Minced garlic
Lemon juice
Olive Oil
Chopped green onion
Crumbled Feta cheese
Sliced French bread

Toast your french bread pieces beforehand. 
Mix Peppers, Garlic, Lemon juice, Olive oil, Onions and place in a small container or ziploc bag.
Place mixture on top of french bread slices and crumble cheese overtop.  If you have a stove try using the lowest setting that keeps the stove running.  Place mixture on top of bread slices in a pan with a light coating of oil. Top with cheese,cover, and allow 5 minutes to melt the cheese. 
With a thermos of hot tea, chocolate, or good coffee this is a great lunch served warm and melty when cold.....and served cold when its hot outside.  Bon Apetit'

See you soon Under Western Skies!

Lugging around fuel is no fun.  I like cooking in the backcountry as much as anyone but learning how much fuel you can get away with carrying.....or not carrying, is another great way to reduce weight.  Check out the many lightweight stove options at your local gear store.  There are a few other things you can do as well.  When shopping for food at your local grocery store look for things that have a minimal prep time.  Most noodle, rice, and Chinese/Thai things in the supermarket can be cooked with nothing more than hot water.  Heres the trick!
Bring your water to a boil and then shut the stove off.  Add your ingredients and just let it soak.  The hot water does the rest.  At the end if your food has absorbed most of the water you might want to "goose" it a little with some heat just to sear or brown or melt a little cheese, and of course don't forget the spices!   This method works well for hot cereals and dinners as well.  Try cold lunches of cheese, hard crackers, salami, licorice, hearty breads and dried fruit.  No cooking for lunch means less fuel.  Boiling water only for dinner,breakfast and cleanup means little or no fuel consumption. 
  Experiment and see what you can get by with you'll be surprised by what you can do. 
Until next time see you Under Western Skies!

Why boots when Tennies will work?  With the recent development in lightweight gear it is easy to kick the heavy old leather boots of yore to the curb!  The trick to going light and fast is first developing a good skill set.  Check out books, outdoor programs,  hint hint UWS Anyone? and attend seminars at your local outdoor stores.  In many parts of the country a tarp will do nicely instead of carrying an entire tent.  Watch the blog for some tips on pitching tarps soon.  During the summer of 2006 I walked almost all the way across California and hardly ever had to pitch my tarp.  When I did pitch it it was more than enough protection from the elements.  Moving from a tent to a tarp set up is one of the easiest things you can do to reduce weight.  A note of caution though.  Make sure your missing the bug season.  Nothing makes a miserable night like a whining mosquito in your ear!  Ditch the tent,pitch the tarp, a good first step to the lightweight switch.

Stay tuned for more fun facts and tips and see you Under Western Skies soon!

Ready for the drop of a hat getaway?  Adventure and getting out in the backcountry are the spice of life.  Here at UWS getting your vitamin "A" pill happens on a weekly basis and here are a few tips to take full advantage of that last minute weekend that comes open on your schedule.

•   Keep a backpack packed and ready to go.  A lightweight weekend pack with all of your essentials minus food can be kept in the closet and ready to go at a moments notice.  You may want to just throw your sleeping bag in at the last moment to keep it from being compressed too long, they tend to lose the puffy factor!

•   I have a special box under the counter that is full of trip food options.  Pastas, rice, and easily prepared meals that I have already proportioned out.  Next time your at the grocery keep your eyes peeled for simple delicious things on the shelves.  For example Thai Kitchen makes a wonderful Thai peanut noodle kit that's cheap, low sodium, and really tasty.  Just grab something every time you go shopping and add it to your trip food box.  You will have a great selection in no time!

•   Know where to go!  Make a list of good locations for weekend trips and buy or print out the maps.  Keep all of the logistic information together in one big gallon size zippy, you can even organize them by difficulty, mileage, or drive time.  Just grab and go.

•   Not that organized?  No worries just grab your stuff throw it in the car and start driving towards the mountains,  sometimes just getting out the door is the biggest adventure and whatever happens after that....well just adds to pot.

Go plan an adventure and see you Under Western Skies soon.

Wanna know a secret?  Try a little tape.  Duct tape is cheap and it can be wrapped around a trekking pole or water bottle so it is always on hand.  As we were talking about yesterdays heat sweat and friction are all enemies when it comes to keeping your feet happy.  Duct tape is a great way to soothe hot spots and get yourself moving down the trail again.  When your making a duct tape patch for a hot spot make sure you cut the tape into a round or oval shape.  If you slap a square piece on the "corners" will snag your sock and pull the patch off.  If you have a little tincture of benzoin (a kind of liquid adhesive in some first aid kits) apply it first and smooth on the patch.  Make sure you get all of the wrinkles and bubbles out from under the tape and there you go!  The smooth outer on the duct tape eliminates friction and its a sure fire dirt cheap fix for your hot spots.
  Happy trails and see you tomorrow,
Under Western Skies

There is an old saying amongst cowboys..."no hoof, no horse".  The same applies to people and feet.  No foot, no hiker.  Learning how to walk is an art form in itself but finding the right boots and socks takes a little trial and error but usually isn't too difficult.  The most important thing when taking care of your feet is if something hurts, stop.  Take the time to sit down, pull off your boot and sock and look at whats causing your pain.  Usually its whats called a "hotspot".  This is caused by two things, heat and friction.  For a demonstration rub your hands together pressing them tightly and moving them quickly.  Uncomfortable?  You betcha!  Add a little sweat and a few miles and presto...a blister thats going to make your day an unpleasant one.
  There are a few things you can do to keep the agony of defeat from defeating your feet.

• Clean dry socks go miles to helping out.  When your socks are dirty or crusted with sweaty funk your skin on your feet gets beaten a little harder by that friction and lack of air circulation.  Clean socks breathe better.  Sweat is the enemy!

• Liner socks are a lightweight synthetic sock that goes right next to the skin and help to wick sweat away.  Again keeping your feet dry and happy.

• Take your boots off at lunch time.  Wiggle your toes, rinse them off, pick out the toe jam, remember you have to hobble through the wilderness on these two things at the ends of your legs.  take good care of them and they will carry you far!

More foot tips tomorrow, see you soon Under Western Skies.

Keeping warm 101
  There are all different kinds of sleepers out there.  Some folks toss and turn every night, some sleep the sleep of the dead as soon as they lay down.  Some sleep hot and some cold.  I know people that could be in a zero degree bag on a cool summer night and still be cold!  Sound silly?  Its not as uncommon as you would think.
  First of all, always take sleeping bag ratings with a grain of salt.  The process in which they rate bags is complex and not always very accurate.  If you sleep cold, and you know it, buy a warmer bag....its that simple.  Manufacturers are all different so you may have to test drive a few in your back yard to figure out a good rating for you.  If its a good cold winter night outside pitch your tent...or cowboy camp in your new bag and see if it matches its rating for you.  Its a good idea to build a relationship with your local outdoor store and tell them what you are planning on doing.  they often will give you advice from what they have heard from other customers.
  So now you have your bag and your out in the wilderness enjoying a mountain evening and its a really cold one!  What can you do to stay warm?  Here are some tips:

• Go into your sleeping bag warm.  See that hill?  Go run up it before bed and then jump in your bag.  A sleeping bag is an insulator.  That means if you go in warm you stay warm, if you go in cold you stay cold.

• Next put on some clean dry clothes.  Lightweight fleece is nice and takes up little space in your pack.  It can also double as an emergency layer when you need it.

• Keep a pair of sacred socks.  This is a pair of socks that NEVER leave your sleeping bag.  When you are in your bag they are on your feet.  Theres nothing like a pair of clean dry socks after a long cold wet day.

• Stuff extra clothing in your bag with you.  All of the little nooks and crannies in your bag that are empty space, require your body to heat...that takes energy and its easy to get cold this way.  Stuff all of the nooks and crannies with extra layers.

• WEAR A HAT!  and gloves if its really chilly.  Remember your Granny telling you to put on your hat and gloves when you go out in the winter time?  She was smart...most of your heat is lost out of your head so cover your dome.

• Finally,  if you can afford the fuel or have fire to heat water go to bed with a hot water bottle.  make sure the lid is on tight and try putting it between you ankles for cold feet, or knees for cold legs or wrists for cold hands.

Enjoy your weekend and stay tuned for more tips.

See you Under Western Skies! 
 

So what kinds of things do guides carry?
  Yesterday we began sorting through ideas for sleeping bags.  We talked about the benefits of down sleeping bags; lightweight, durable, warm, compressible.  Today we will talk about the benefits of synthetic bags.  Synthetic bags have been around since world war II when the army began experimenting with nylon.  They are very durable, usually pretty cheap and can be found almost everywhere.  Got a local sporting goods store?  Most likely they have a whole shelf of synthetic fill bags.  The most popular names for synthetic fills are Primaloft, Hollofil, Quallofil and Excelloft.  These are only a few names there are literally hundreds of different types.  I have had the best luck with Primaloft and Excelloft for warmth and durability.
  Ok now the good stuff!  Why synthetic?  Synthetic bags are great because even if they are soaking wet you can ring them out and still be warm!  That's a huge benefit for traveling in really wet climates.  Its also great for kids who bring the bag outside the tent in the dewy grass or  let their feet poke out under the tarp and get rained on.  They are indestructible and will give years of performance.  Now the "not so good stuff".
   Synthetic bags tend to be really heavy.  A standard weight for a 0 degree bag is around 6 pounds where a down bag is 4-5 pounds for a 0 degree bag. Synthetic bags are also not very compressible and are a bit like packing a bowling ball once you have put them in the compression sacks. That bieng said they are ideal for car camping and kids programs.  Even though they are not quite as refined as the down bags they definatley have their place in the outdoor adventure realm!
   So there you have it ups and downs of synthetic and feathers.  Tomorrow we will share some tips for sleeping warmer in your bag at night.  sleeping warmer=sleeping better=happy camper.
Until then have fun and see you soon Under Western Skies.

So what kinds of things does a guide carry in their pack?
  Well what about sleeping bags?  Should I buy a synthetic or a down sleeping bag?  There are plenty of reasons to choose either.  It usually comes down to these few things.  The location your headed to, weight, bulk, and price.  I have gotten away with using a down sleeping bag in every climate there is, from brutal cold to extremely wet maritime environments like Prince William Sound in Alaska.  the nice thing about Down is that it is very light and compressible, lasts much longer than synthetic fill and for the warmth to weight is far superior in performance.  If you are headed someplace cold and dry like, the Rockies or Sierras it is the only choice! 
  The downside of down is that it will get damp over a long period of time in wet climates.  When down gets wet it is pretty much useless.  My approach is that if your not sleeping in it its in a waterproof stuff sack even inside your tent!  Take advantage of sunny afternoons in camp to air out your bag.  Dark colors help to absorb sunlight and "cook all of that moisture out".  With good care and occasional washing your down bag will go a long way to keeping you warm and happy in the backcountry.

 Happy trails and stay tuned for the next installment where we will talk about synthetic bags.

See you Under Western Skies!

What does a guide carry in their pack?
   Thats a good question!  I have spent many years walking around in the backcountry and I will share a few tips with you that have shown through in trial and error.

There is no such thing as "waterproof"!  You either get wet from the outside or you get wet from the inside via sweat and condensation.  There are a slew of brands out there that cost an arm and a leg but really the most important things to look for are the zippers pockets and weight of the garment.  All Gore-tex works the same and E-vent works slightly better.  Marmot pre-cip is decent for the price and even REI has its own brand of waterproof breathable jackets and pants.  If your looking for a jacket consider a pullover style.  there really arent any zippers to break and it will still work even if they do.  With rain pants look for 3/4 zip calf high or full zip.  These make it so much easier to get them on and off just make sure you keep the zippers clean and apply something like Ziptech or a wax crayon to the teeth on the zipper.  Do this occasionally for all of your gear and it will provide years of service.

Look for tomorrows posting about proper layering.

Until Then
    See you Under Western Skies!
Andy