Even though it was sunny and warm, with water temperatures as low as they are this time of year, we packed full survival kits including shelter, changes of clothing and a three-day supply of food. It is always a must to pack a change of clothes in case of an unplanned dunk, and I was thankful to have it right away. The put-in at Steel Creek can be a little challenging as a swift current pushes through a narrow opening in the rocks during low-water levels. I’ve watched many people capsize there in the past, but haven’t had trouble myself until this time.

I pushed off, but the current was too strong to make my boat across the channel to the “V” before I hit the low rock dam. My boat high-centered on the rocks and left three feet of my Axis 10.5 sticking out into thin air over the low ledge. I knew that I might take a plunge as I pushed off. Kayaks are the most unstable they can be when one end is perched on land. I was sitting there long enough to make a good plan and luckily I stayed dry during the tip over. If I hadn’t, it would have been really important to get out and get dry quickly.

The first half of the day was sunny and warm with only a few small sections where our boats drug bottom. Other sections of riffles were really fun at this water level. The low water exposes rocks and boulders that are usually below the surface. The obstacles create narrow waterways that are really fun to navigate if your kayak is maneuverable enough. The different colors of paint embedded in these exposed rocks just goes to show that not every boat made it without contact!

We pulled our kayaks up onto a low shelf to eat some lunch and the sun left us before we were able to even get out our dry bags. We wouldn’t see it again all day as a thick front of clouds covered the horizon from end to end. As the temperature plummeted, we decided to get out the survival kit and stove to have a hot meal instead of the planned snack foods.

Thanks to our JetBoil Flash and Mountain House, we had Chicken Teriyaki within 12 minutes! It’s always so cheering and energizing to have a hot meal when it’s cold outside. I don’t think the psychological benefits of eating a hot meal can be understated, for that reason my survival kit will always include a stove if I can at all afford the extra weight. Hopefully, I’ll never need it in an actual survival situation, but if I do, I know at least I will be eating well, which could mean the difference between a good outcome or a tragic one.

What was the only thing we did forget? Silverware! No problem! Chopsticks are usually readily available along the banks Out comes the Leatherman, boom chopsticks in minutes!

We bundled up for the second leg of the trip, and were relatively comfortable throughout the afternoon. The wind pushed against us pretty hard a few times, but both of our kayaks are equipped with drop-down skegs that helped us to keep tracking straight even in strong cross-winds.

As usual, the trip along the Buffalo is spectacular. We passed under Big Bluff and saw a group of hikers on the trail high above. There were several notable places to return for swimming later in the year when the water warms up. I’ve always wanted to float the Buffalo from the upper to lower Wilderness areas. Maybe this will be my year!

We chose to drive only one vehicle down. The folks at Lost Valley Canoe in Ponca, Arkansas will drive your vehicle to the take-out for you. Of course there are fees involved, but it still beats the gas price for the second vehicle and the convenience of just putting in and going without worry is unbeatable.

Next time, I plan to float from Kyle’s Landing on. Let us know what your favorite parts of this incredible river are!

The entire park is so full of amazing geology that you can’t decide where to look. I particularly was drawn to what I’ve been calling the upper canyon. It’s the portion of the park above or to the East of the long tunnel. The canyons and peaks there are so much closer to view that it feels almost quaint, not over-powering like the huge dominating peaks of the lower parts.

The drive through the long tunnel has windows, which are literally just openings in the side of the mountain you are driving through. Although the park does not allow you to stop your vehicle at any point inside the tunnel, the slow creep past these epic views made me almost dizzy. Going from complete darkness to a blast of intensity so bright, made me feel like I’d completed some kind of daring amusement park ride.

The scenic byway through Zion Canyon itself had some of the most incredible opportunities for photography. Particularly the Court of the Patriarchs allowed for some great shots of the giant peaks here that jut up into the sky.

Having a young child, we were happy to find some relatively easy paths along the river that were fun for everyone and still provided great scenery for gawking. Riverside Trail was an easy access trail at the very back of Zion canyon that had access to the river at several places. Emerald Pools Trails are some of the park’s most famous trails and were almost empty this time of year.

There is a great piece of literature available from Zion Adventure Club about the various hikes and trails in the park. One suggestion that I found helpful was to time the outings based on the placement of the sun at a certain time of day. In the morning and evening hours, the canyon is in the shade and was windy and quite chilly. By midday, the sun was warming the rocks up and making for a much more pleasant time while adding color to the cliffs surrounding.

We have to give a small plug here for the folks at Driftwood Lodge. Hans, the owner, was really genuine guy and his staff were all wonderful as were the accommodations. Located in Springdale, just minutes outside the park entrance, the room rates were reasonable and the convenience was unbeatable.

I can’t wait to come back here when I have more time to explore. I will plan a 3-4 day hike that will include some of the rim next time. I will have an older daughter at that point and probably won’t be needing a child carrier, but I couldn’t have done without my Deuter Kid Comfort II this time! She is always just as content as can be when she’s riding up there and it allows us to just keep going once she gets worn out.

Having a two-year-old, I was worried that the trails along the rim would be too icy for her to run around on, but they were in good shape and she only slipped a little a time or two before touching down on solid ground. I was hoping that we might be able to explore a little below the rim, but this time of year that’s a little too much to ask of a North-facing slope after snowfall. I decided we better not risk it at the suggestion of Park Rangers who said a fall would be likely on the ice-packed trails. Luckily, she was very content to climb on the boulders near the cleared pathways and enjoy the scenic overlooks on the rim itself.

Desert View road was worth the time it took to make the drive and take the stops at viewing points for sure, but it wasn’t until the evening trip on Hermit Road when the sun was setting that the canyon really showed it’s “true colors”. I was completely amazed at the way the scenery changed as the sun dropped. And when it finally slipped away, the haziness in the air disappeared and the subtle color variations in the rock immediately came alive. It’s worth noting that the temperature dropped at a crazy speed as soon as the sun was gone. Within 25 minutes of sunset, I was clearly underdressed, but near my vehicle for a bundle up session.

I am a big proponent of wearing layers in the outdoors. I would never stray far without them. This trip is made complete by the generous offerings of Merino Wool sheep next to my skin. I have a mid-weight piece from Smartwool that I have found to be the most durable wool garment I’ve used so far. It’s my staple long-sleeve base layer for the cold. I’ve recently picked up a ultra-light merino bottom from Bergans of Norway and am trying it out this trip. I don’t like bulky base layers under my pants, so I’m going with ultra-light stuff and more review to come on that.

Moving on to Zion National Park tomorrow on the way to Winter Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake. I’ll keep you posted!

That’s how I felt about the MSR Hubba Hubba 2 man tent. It’s become somewhat of a classic, and I had never even slept in one…until now. I decided to try one out and let our customers know what’s up with such a relic still gracing our floor space.

Reading up on the features, my number one concern was the barrier against the cold offered by an entirely no-see-um mesh body. I decided to do my trial in freezing temperatures to test this. After waking up happily and noticing hard frost all around the tent, I was pleasantly surprised that I had slept as comfortably as I had with no more than mesh between me and the cold night. Admittedly, that may have had something to do with the fact that I was also trying out the Therm-a-rest cot at the same time, but that’s another review

Right off, the two best features to me are the nice vertical space construction. There is plenty of room for two people to sit up and play cards or organize gear inside the tent. If you ended up caught in a driving rain, this is the tent to have where comfortable living space is concerned. Also, the dual side doors makes it easy for each person to get in and out without trampling an unsuspecting tentmate. Each door has a vestibule area under the rain fly, which makes it easy to keep gear out of the weather and possibly even an area to carefully cook during rain. I loved these features immediately

The headroom and gear loops make a nice out of the way spot for hanging a candle lantern or headlamp in the evening. There are nice large gear pockets on each end of the tent too. They are up off of the bathtub floor, so your gear stays organized up away from all the bedding.

I didn’t like that the fly doors both needed to be staked out to remain taught. It made it a little difficult when entering or exiting the tent to get the loops unhooked from the stake, but other than that, I can see why so many people like this tent. Lightweight and a great combination of features for two people!

Earlier this year, I blogged about the Therm-A-Rest Pro-lite sleeping pad, which is still serving me well and a part of my backpacking essential equipment list. This weekend (October 6-7,2012), hiking at Hercules Glades Wilderness, I wondered at one point in the night if it might be worth the extra bulk and weight to have the regular length pad instead of the small. The lower part of my legs and my feet, which were hanging off the end of the pad, got a little cool. I might see about purchasing a longer pad and reviewing the differences.

My friend and I parked the car at the trailhead just off of HWY 125 South of Hercules. After logging our trip at the provided kiosk, we set off down Pilot Trail. With temperatures in the 40s during the day and patchy with rain, we were glad to have on a good system of layers. During the ascents, my body heat really took off and I needed to remove layers a couple times and open the pit zips on my North Face Mountain Light Parka. Then, in the afternoon, it began to rain and I was dry as a bone inside my rain shell. Layers, especially this time of year, are such an important part of your overall good outdoor experience.

The first day hiking on Pilot Trail, Devil’s Den Trail, and Rock Spring Trail to the Falls, we encountered all nicely kept trails and clear intersections. At the “Falls”, although there was no running water at the time, the pools and rock features were really pretty. Below the Falls, there are several well laid out campsites with fire rings. Even with the rain, there were enough rocky ledges along the creek to find dry tinder beneathe. We were able to get a fire going relatively easily and warm up a bit before bed. After dinner, I hung up the food in a tree away from the tent and crawled in for the night. Despite the rain and the mid 30 degree temperatures, we stayed warm and dry in down sleeping bags.

The hike out in the morning was nice as the sun had burned off the clouds and lit up all the brilliant Fall colors that we hadn’t seen the day before. The Long Creek Trail through the creek bottom was a bit grown over with weeds in places, but after a nice climb of a mile or more opened up under beautiful tree cover back to the parking lot.

This was a great weekend hike that I will return to when there is water running in Long Creek!

She is walking this time, which makes it SO much more enjoyable! I’m determined to enjoy the outdoors with this little girl for many reasons. I’ve always felt that my most authentically valuable experiences have happened outdoors and this is something that I want to be able to share with her. Also, it’s partly selfish because to Cedar (21 months old) everything is quite literally brand new! Every leaf and twig and grand daddy long legs is something to “wow” about. It’s adorable and contagious and makes even a simple mini-hike at SCNC a cherished memory.

By the bottom of the Savannah Ridge Trail, Cedar had already completely unashamedly stared down every stranger that passed by and filled my right cargo pocket with acorns, we were off to a good start! Near the Long Trail portion in the bottomland before the boardwalk we spotted a squirrel. I’ve always noticed that the wildlife at the Nature Center is very used to people. Deer and turkeys and squirrels are often much closer than normal and unafraid. This grey squirrel just continued digging in the leaves near the trail while we watched. After it had scampered up a tree and out of sight, Cedar kept asking mommy for “more squirrel.” I tried to explain to her that “Mommy can’t just make more squirrels appear”, but she was clearly disappointed until she discovered how much fun it is to run on the boardwalk.

By the time we crossed the bridge, she was ready to play in the water. I changed her into her water shoes and she walked right in and sat down. As an aside, you can never bring too many extra outfits for a toddler. The damage was already done, so I allowed her (under close supervision) to continue to make a complete mess of herself. It was really incredibly cute. I know I know, I’m totally whipped by this goofy giggling little squirt. I can’t deny it. For a long time I couldn’t really imagine being a mom, and now I can honestly say that with all the adventures I’ve had all over the world, this is by FAR the most fun I’ve had!

At the Sycamore Cut-Off trail, she was tuckered out and on my shoulder for the rest of the trip (all uphill by the way). I continue to be so happy that Chacos have such good arch support. I have to be ready at all times to carry or alternately chase after a 25 pound bundle of energy. Thank you Chaco USA for understanding and making these Z2s especially for the thrill-seeking Mothers of toddlers. What? You made them for river guides? The box must have said River Rats, I thought it said Rug Rats. Well, I would never have known if you hadn’t said something

We had a great day. I can’t spend a day on a trail without thinking about how much work and dedication went into it. Thank you to all who support the Nature Center and maintain it’s great little system of trails!

GPS location devices, pressurized water filtrations devices, stoves that can fit in the palm of your hand…outdoor activities can be pretty complicated these days. All this technical innovation has made some things possible today that otherwise could not be accomplished, but its also nice to know that some things can still be simple. That’s one of the great perks about carrying your water in a Platypus Platy Bottle.

Some of the other great things are that it weighs less than any other water storage method I know. Platypus says that it actually weighs 80% less than a hard bottle of equal volume…every ounce counts. Also, it’s BPA free and I’ve never noticed that “plasticky” taste that I often get from hard water bottles.

I have been taking mine on kayaking trips and just laying it flat in the bottom of my storage compartment. The cold water below the boat keeps the water nice and cool for drinking and it takes up very little space lying flat like it does. It’s also great for backpacking! Hard-sided water storage containers still take up the same amount of space as the water gets consumed, but these platy bottles collapse as the volume decreases. This means that not only does the pack get lighter, but it can also be compressed down to a smaller and less-bulky size. The collapsibility also means that extra empty bottles can be stored in the pack if needed without taking up much space at all.

I was worried a little about the durability of the bottle itself. So far, I have only good things to say. It holds up well being tossed out on rocky banks and around campsites. It is made to stand alone on a level surface. I know with all bottles and bladders of this type, it’s important to store them clean and dry. If you use any kind of sweetened drink, it needs to be cleaned and dried thoroughly to prevent mold and mildew build-up.

We carry these in 1 and 2 liter sizes. 2 liter is my favorite and costs $12.95.

Happy camping!

A few weekends ago I braved the Niangua on a Saturday. If you like to get outdoors to actually appreciate nature and the peace and beauty it has to offer, I would not recommend public use portions of the Niangua on Summer weekends. It was a drunken bumper boat ride from carnival hell. I think I would have registered on the breathalyzer just from second-hand fumes.

In a pleasantly opposite way, Lake Taneycomo offered a great day-float option that I would recommend. With water-levels in the streams and rivers being what they are these days, it is nice to know that there is a consistent place to paddle some beautiful water. There won’t be any riffles or rapids along the way, which we saw as a bit of a downside. On the other hand, it provided some excellent opportunity to keep your upper body in shape and stretch out on some nice sprints for a good workout.

I arrived planning on a put-in and take-out from the same location, but was surprised to see a decent current and thought better of that option. Near the “headwaters” at the base of Table Rock Dam, the current is enough to present a fairly serious obstacle to a single access float. While this made it a fun quick ride and a great spot for viewing many varieties of fish in the clear fast waters, it meant that we needed a shuttle service.

Luckily, we ran into Don and Lawanna Stuck of White River Kayaking and Outdoors. They were sending off a couple of folks in an Old Town tandem kayak at the Shepherd of the Hills Hatchery access. They gave us a card and a few tips and offered to pick us up at the takeout near Scotty’s landing.

If the lake doesn’t provide enough excitement for you river rats out there, don’t forget the optional dip in 48 degree water. We found that when your face hits the water, a brain freeze follows in a split-second. It’s definitely a rush to do it yourself and it’s fun to watch your friends jumping out of the water afterward like dolphins.

Possible down sides are the motor boats. For the most beautiful Saturday of the year, there were surprisingly few boats on the lake, but occasionally they do come by and provide a few waves to ride. Also, expect to need to dodge fisherman casting from banks and docks along the way. Again, it’s not an ideal place for the river runner, but still a great place to get away for a day. And don’t forget to bring White River Kayaking and Outdoors some business. They were really nice folks.

For a sleeping pad, I settled on Therm-A-Rest’s ProLite 3 self-inflating mattress. I’ve taken this pad with me all over the world now and slept on it in countless places. After a rigorous day of hiking, paddling or climbing, my body is ready for a good night’s sleep. If I can manage that, I notice that the energy and muscle restoration I experience makes for a much better next day adventure. If I can’t manage a good night’s rest, I find myself dragging groggily around camp rubbing my eyes and gradually convincing myself to continue on with the planned activity. Since I simply CANNOT sleep well when I’m cold or uncomfortable, the ProLite mattress has dramatically tipped the scale in my favor.

I’ve found that on average sleeping on a pad can increase the tolerable degree range of temperature by at least 10 degrees. That means that if under pad-less conditions I might only be comfortable down to 45 degree temperatures, with the ProLite, I can now handle 35 degrees with relative ease. On a side note, I really enjoy using my ProLite with my camping hammock. As hammocks tend to be cold on the bottom where the cool air flows under your backside, sleeping on a pad inside the hammock can eliminate this discomfort. The ProLite is small and lightweight enough that it can easily be slid into the hammock without much bulk and weight.

I use the small sized pad to cut down on pack size and weight, but the mattress is also available in regular and large. I usually don’t worry about having a pad under the lower portions of my leg, but as I often sleep curled on my side, I can draw up my calves and feet onto the lower portions of the mattress if need be.

I recently purchased the latest version of my beloved mattress and tried the two out on a side-by-side comparison. There is a minimal difference in pack weight due to the shaved off corners of the new version. This weight difference is slight enough that it would only become significant if you are in the league of people who also saw off the handle of their backpacking toothbrush to save a fraction of an ounce. For the rest of us, we would hardly notice the difference. Other than the different shape and weight, I was in all other respects sleeping on the same pad as always. I was just as happy with the new ProLite as the old, but now I have an extra for my daughter or a friend to sleep on.

I always purchase the stuff-sack to go along with the mattress. The main reason is that this sack becomes my camp pillow at night. I stuff any extra clothing or whatever I can find into the stuff-sack and put this under my head. This takes care of the crazy achy camp eyes I get when sleeping on hard flat surfaces (am I the only one who gets this?). Being able to collect the mattress together and keep it tidy in the sack is nice also.

I recommend this pad for anyone who likes to travel light and fast or just needs to have a catch-all sleeping pad for multiple occasions.

Leaving Friday evening from Springfield, I headed South on 65.  Taking highway 43 on the South side of Harrison, Arkansas the winding scenic highway leads straight into Ponca.  My friend and I were happy to spot a young cow elk grazing in the bottomland beyond Ponca and made a note to check out the viewing area in the morning.  Along the short gravel drive into the Lost Valley Campground, a beautiful buck grazed quietly on one side of the car and a couple of adult turkeys with ten adolescents in tow ran through the grass on the opposite side.  Just ahead a squirrel jumped off the drive.  Four species in as many minutes, we were back in Arkansas!  I love the diversity of wildlife still thriving in the Natural State.

The sun was already down and the light was fading fast when I parked the car in front of a sign that said “Day Use Only.  No Camping.”  I was surprised, to say the least, as the minutes for setting up camp in daylight were ticking by quickly.  Last year some flooding caused damage and threatened the safety of campers in Lost Valley.  The campground no longer accepts overnight campers.  Luckily, Steel Creek Campground was only a few miles away and we hurried off to find a spot to set up camp.

Steel Creek Campground and River Access is not as quaint and cozy as Lost Valley, but is set in a gorgeous valley with enormous bluffs of the Buffalo River to admire during your stay.  In the early morning hours the temperature finally cooled down to a comfortable sleeping range.  The Pro-Lite Thermarest I slept on made for a good sound sleep from then on.  In the morning, the grass was wet with dew and the animals were all enjoying this rest from the dry heat.  Ground hogs and wild rabbits nibbled casually nearby.

Breakfast consisted of some granola, trail mix and beef jerky (the staples for any backpacking trip).  As this was essentially just car camping, we could have brought a cooler and a camp stove and made it a glamping (glamorous camping) trip if we had been so inclined. But for simplicity sake, we enjoyed a quick break down of camp and headed to the Lost Valley Trail to make the hike in cool temperatures.

The first quarter mile of the trail is level and well-developed.  It makes for a nice walk under the trees in the shade.  The Clark Creek is dry during this severe drought, but a little water trickles out of the caves along the way.  There are some huge boulders thrown together in the creek bed.  Known as “Jigsaw Rocks,” these make a fun climb and photo op.  There are several caves along the hike, but to me the one below Eden Falls, known as “Cob Cave” is by far the most spectacular.  Basically, just a huge depression under overhanging rock, this cave is vast!  I left my friend at the mouth and hiked to the back for a photo.  I am barely visible in the picture I’m so small!  Native Americans were no doubt safe and secure (not to mention cool) under it’s protection.

It’s a steep climb up from this point to Eden Falls Cave above, which is dry, but nonetheless worth the trip.  The cave is set so high on the bluff that it will flutter your stomach looking over the edge.  Definitely take precautions along the last stretch of trail.  A tumble here would be no small mistake!  Pigeons have made nests inside the mouth of Eden Cave.  Here they are safe from predators to raise their young.  Watching them leap from their nests and dive into the canyon below will make your head spin.

Grab your hiking pole to save your joints on the steep descent.  Because of the short distance of the trail, we decided to run the lower and level portions of the return trip.  This is just a perfect place for a quick heart workout and trail run.

Along the return route, others were arriving to make the trip.  Among them were several young kids and I would definitely recommend this hike for families.  It’s short enough not to be too tiring, but scenic enough to make it a memorable adventure for years to come.