Cascade Designs, Part One

E x p l o r e , E n j o y , a n d P r o t e c t t h e P l a n e t

T H E M AG A Z I N E O F T H E S I E R R A C LU B$3.9 5 M A Y/ J U N E 2 012

SEX ED & CO2How family planning

can cool the globe

THE SWAMP MANLouisiana’s rot-resistant

wetland warrior

THE MONSTERIN THE MIST

SPLASH MOB I LIZARDS FLY! I RAIN GEAR I CLUB OUTINGS: BOOK ’EM

PADDLERS IN THE GREAT BEAR RAINFOREST FIND THERE’S MORE TO FEAR

THAN THE CREATURES LURKING BELOW

40 Q M A Y / J U N E 2 0 1 2 PONCHO, MATCHES, E!CASE: LORI EANES; SPECIAL THANKS TO KRISTEN KONG

It won’t score you any fashion points, but a simple poncho is great for staying dry in a downpour. The Multipurpose

Poncho from OUTDOOR PRODUCTS has a generous hood, is made from urethane-coated nylon, and won’t

break the bank. $30, rei.com

The first all-weather digital consumer camera by NIKON, the Coolpix AW100 is waterproof and freeze-proof (to 14 degrees Fahrenheit) and can survive drops up to five feet. The gadget also shoots 1080p video, packs a 5X glass lens for ultrasharp images, and has GPS for geotagging photos. A favorite func- tion: the super-slow-motion feature that captures up to 240 frames per second. $380, nikonusa.com

Thunderheads above, rapids ahead . . . there’s water in your future. So what do you bring to keep things dry? —Steve Casimiro

LET IT RAIN

Most three-season backpacking tents do just fine in moderate rain. But if you’re in a truly wet place—on the Olympic Peninsula, say—choose a more robust shelter, like the Cirque ASL 2 from REI. The 31-square-foot, two-person domicile has a deep, waterproof bathtub floor, panels to cover mesh doors, and vents to fend off internal condensation. $360, rei.com

When the starter on your stove fails on a damp night, the REI Stormproof Matches come to the rescue, sparking up din-ner. They burn until their chemical treatment runs out—even in the heaviest rain—but you can submerge them in water to douse the flame. $6.50 for two 25-match boxes, rei.com

Traveling ultralight is the most liberating way to romp through the backcountry—until a shower rolls through right at dark. Combine the MSR one-pound E!Wing Tarp with hiking poles and the enclosed parachute cord, though, and you’re protected from light rain, wind, and sun. It’s easily configured into a variety of shelter types: pup tent, lean-to, kitchen cover, and others. $170, msrcorp.com

Plenty of dry bags remain watertight on even the wildest river trip, but most of them trap air—and stay bulky—when buckled shut. The eVac Dry Sack from SEA TO SUMMIT has a base made of a breathable, waterproof material (called eVent) that lets you easily squeeze out air after you’ve rolled the bag’s top. $18 to $35 (depending on size), sea tosummit.com

PATAGONIA wetsuits have a sec-ret ingredient: They’re lined with chlorine-free merino wool, so they stay warm while using less rubber. The easy-access R2 Front-Zip Full Suit is designed for water that’s 55 to 65 de- grees Fahrenheit; it’ll get you through spring to fall. $525, patagonia.com

Instead of buying a separate waterproof phone to take rafting, just make sure to properly protect your everyday smartphone. The eSeries 8 Case from SEALLINE keeps your phone dry while letting you make calls through the trans-parent cover. You’d be ill advised to ski, cycle, or do anything sporty without slipping your electronics into one. SealLine also makes cases for iPads, maps, and small cameras. $20, cascadedesigns.com

A better name for the waterproof Montana 600 GPS by GARMIN might be “the Amphibian.” It can be loaded with worldwide marine charts (so you’ll never be lost at sea), as well as topos and detailed road maps. But what you might appreciate most is the generous four-inch screen. $550, garmin.com

© Rory Kurtz 2010, Levy Creative Management, NYC

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KELTY Gunnison 1.1 Tent - $170

Two lightweight aluminum poles made set-up and break-down of this three-season, one-person tent quick and easy. Generously-sized mesh panels and a vent in the !y kept air !owing and condensation to a minimum. "e poles and !y attached easily to a Jake’s Foot corner anchor system, which consists of a tab for the !y, a socket for the pole, and attachment points for the footprint and stakes. With a !oor dimension of 90”x29” and a tall 39” interior, I could sit upright inside. "e vestibule was su#cient to store stinky gear outside and keep the elements at bay. In all, it’s a well-thought-out and easy-to-use tent at a great price. Weight 3.9lbs. (without footprint or stakes). Made in China. www.kelty.com –Jon PrattSIERRA DESIGNS Utopia 15 Sleeping Bag - $180

Tested to ensure an accurate temperature rating, Sierra Designs’ Utopia 15 Degree sleeping bag was very comfortable at 20ºF. Elastic material in the construction allowed the bag to conform well to my nighttime repositioning, and my wiggling toes welcomed the ergo-nomically designed foot box. It was comfortable, very breathable, and packed relatively small, especially for a synthetic $ll bag—it fit into a rear pannier with space for a pair of shoes plus odds and ends. Overall, recommended. Weight 3.7lbs. Made in China. www.sierradesigns.com –Jon PrattKELTY Recluse Pad - $85

De$nitely the coolest feature of this pad is the integrated hand pump. Just close the exhaust value, open the intake value, and practice your C.P.R. compressions—a huge plus if you $nd yourself gasping for air at high elevations. Within a short time, you’ve got a fully in!ated, 2.5” thick pad to rest your weary bones on. "e lengthwise ba%es felt a little strange when I rolled from side to side during the night; however, using these instead of widthwise ones decreases the material needed for construction and reduces waste. Also, the outside ba%es are slightly taller than the inner group, limiting the chance you’ll roll o& the pad. Comfort in an 11”x6” bag. PVC-free. Weight: 1.9lbs. Made in China. www.kelty.com –Jon Pratt

MSR Hubba V5 Tent - $279

"is three-season solo tent from MSR, part of their Hubba line, is one awesome structure. A single pole erects the tent and a cross member at the apex expands the interior space, making it downright livable. With a footprint of roughly 24”x84” and head clearance of over 36”, there was plenty of room to change inside. Two triangular gear pockets kept my accoutrements close at hand. A full-coverage rain !y kept me well protected and o&ered a 36” triangular vesti-bule for gear that needed to be out of the elements, but not right next to me. Six included stakes lock things down. "e whole thing packs down to a manageable 6”x21” tube that $t on top of my rear rack. I think this is a terri$c tent for the price. Two- and three-person versions are also available. Weight: 3lbs. Made in Taiwan. www.cascadedesigns.com –Stephen HaynesREI Igneo Sleeping Bag - $330 I chose the goose-down-$lled REI Igneo sleeping bag for its cold-weather rating of 19°F and waterproof shell. We were expecting the worst from late-March Appalachia, but lucked out and ended up not testing this bag’s cold/wet limits. I found myself halfway out of the bag one night and semi-covered the next when temps dropped into the 30’s. "ere’s a convenient zippered, exterior chest pocket (big enough for one hand) for sundry items. "e bag isn’t terribly heavy and its 8”x16” tubular stu& sack belies its ability to compress further. Weight: 2lbs. Made in China. www.rei.com –Stephen HaynesREI Stratus Insulated Sleeping Pad - $75

"e Stratus Insulated Sleeping Pad from REI is a manually in-!ated air mattress that has !utes running the length of its body. It took about 15 breaths to get it to full capacity, and the quick-closing cap kept most of my spent breath in its chambers. Its rug-ged, non-slip nylon top and non-slip polyester bottom keep you from shi'ing around, while the PrimaLo' insulation keeps the cold o&. While I’m not generally a fan of so'er pads like this one, I did appreciate the larger outside !utes that keep you centered as advertised. "e Stratus packs down to a roughly 10”x5.5” tubular shape with the included stu& sack. Weight: 1.3lbs. Made in Taiwan. www.rei.com –Stephen Haynes

53BicycleTimesMag.com June/July 2012

52 CANOEKAYAK.COM52

1 Why bring tent poles when you’ve got paddles? You can string up the NRS Ultralight Wing Shelter with the sticks you’ve already got, off a tree, or even across your boats. ($160, nrsweb.com) 2 With synthetic insulation that provides near-downy warmth even when wet, and with a svelte weight under 3 pounds, Mountain Hardware’s Ultralamina 15 is the right sleep-sack for your next fast-and-light paddling adventure. ($205, mountainhardwear.com) 3 The new Therm-A-Rest NeoAir All Season packs up smaller than a half-eaten loaf of bread and lets you sleep on air even when you’re on the rocks. ($140, cascadedesigns.com)

4 Go ahead and bring a couple extra pairs of socks—maybe even some fresh underwear. They’ll fit, if you pack ‘em in Granite Gear eVent Sil Compression Drysacks. These 100 percent waterproof bags are cut in a slightly blocky pattern for easy nesting in the boat.($30-$38, granitegear.com)5 The MSR WhisperLite Internationale runs anywhere on almost anything, and unlike the rest of your kit (and you), it’s easy to keep clean in the field. Whether burning white gas, unleaded, or kerosene, count on the Internationale to deliver a hot cup of whatever gets your motor running. ($90, cascadedesigns.com) 6 The GSI Halulite MicroDualist is everything you need to prepare a backcountry meal for two: a pot for boiling water, two bowls,

two cups (including sippy-cup lids), and a pair of collapsible sporks. The welded stuff sack also doubles as a washbasin.($53, gsioutdoors.com) 7 If you’re not into giardia and other gastrointestinal ailments, you’re going to want a water filter. The Katadyn Pocket comes with a reusable ceramic filter that easily removes for riverside scrub-downs, plus a 20-year warranty. ($350, katadyn.com) 8 Once you’re ready to get back on the water, put everything in the Watershed Animas Drybag. It’ll keep your stuff drier than a saltine cracker for years to come, and it incorporates removable backpack straps and a waist belt for the portage trail. ($120, drybags.com)–Dave Costello

LESS IS MORECAMP IN ONE BAG

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photograph by JP Van Swae

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