Budget camping gear
Car camping serves as a useful introduction to the outdoors for many. And a useful adjunct to other trips for the experienced. How to equip affordably? Updated March 2025. Read More …
Year: 2025
Two+ Year review – LightHeart Gear Fleece Hoodie
A longer term review of the LightHeart Gear micogrid fleece hoodie. Made in the USA, readily avialable, warm and fuzzy, but best for people who run cold or static use. Read More …
Along the bluffs
A local backpacking trip with some great views not often seen by most. We love these quick trips in our (almost literal) backyard. Read More …
Backpacking in the public lands
Spending a weekend in our public lands. Read More …
Taking the (canyon) fork
After three weekends without a night in the backcountry, Joan and I finally got to sleep somewhere in the back of beyond. We walked up a canyon, saw what we could see, and enjoyed our time in the red rock canyons of the place we call home. Read More …
Gear over the years – A look back, Part 3
Part three of a a continuing series of looking at gear we’ve used over the yeatrs.
Read More …
Another winter camp
A winter camp after our Big Bend trip. Read More …
Texas Sojurn – Big Bend National Park, Part 3
The last bit of our Texas winter break with a brief stop at Davidson Mountains State Park. Read More …
Texas Sojurn 2024 – Big Bend National Park, Part 2
Part 2 of our Big Bend jaunt over Christmas and into the New Year. Read More …
Texas Sojurn 2024 – Big Bend National Park, Part 1
The first part of our ten days at Big Bend National Park. Read More …
An overlook -Alpha Squak V2
A look at the Alpha Squak V2. The TL;DR – I like the garment itself but I still find Alpha fleece a niche use for my needs. Read More …
Texas Sojurn 2024 – Hueco Tanks
The first part of our Texas December vaction started at the awesome Hueco Tanks State Park with its memorable images. Read More …
December desert meanderings
An early December camp before we took for a couple of weeks. Read More …
Gear over the years – A look back, Part 2
Another look over the gear Joan and I used over the decades. Read More …
Ultra-light but not ultra-precise
Why I stopped counting ounces with my gear…at least precisely. Updated for 2025. Read More …
Gear over the years – A look back, Part 1
The first in a series of some quick looks at some gear or gear-adjacent items we still use over the years. Read More …
2024 in review
The 2015 version of a 1995 holiday newsletter (as I am too old/lazy to do a 2025 TikTok video) .
Read More …
Thoughts on seventeen days away
We just returend from seventeen days away in Texas going to Hueco Tanks, Big Bend National Park, and Davis Mountain State Park. Some initial thoughts. Read More …