I had a good time at the Kayak demo day yesterday. I paddled a great yak made by Perception called the Search 15.

One-Heel Drive has a great review on Dan White’s book called The Cactus Eaters

Check it out here:

Pack Fitting

Related to the Starfest,  I was recently at a talk given by Borrego Spring’s own star guru Dennis Mammana and he brought us the news that Borrego Springs is in the process of becoming one of the few Dark Sky Cities. For those of you who have experienced star gazing in the Anza Borrego, you will recognize why preserving the night sky is so incredibly important.  For those of you who have not had a chance to experience one of the most spectacular sites in our area;  be sure to make a point of heading out to our desert as the summer turns to fall, and the temperatures become bearable again for us mortals.

The responsibility for ones safety in the backcountry has been on my mind as I have just recently read Bill Bryson’s book A Walk In The Woods and am in the middle of Dan White’s book Cactus Eaters. Both of these books feature woefully ill prepared hikers departing on epic journeys on the AT Trail and the PCT trail respectively. Both books are great reads with lots of humor and insight on the human condition as one challenges oneself to a life changing journeys. Neither book would be as entertaining if something truly tragic would have resulted from the lack of preparation. While I suspect some of the drama unfolding in these books are a result of creative license, the unnecessary peril portrayed should give pause to the readers. I guess my convoluted point is; would a device like the SPOT provide these guys with a false sense of security, pushing them father, or is it a safety net that will save many lives? …You decide.

I finished a feature article about the trip for Adventure Trip Magazine. You can find it here: Kayak Fishing SoCal Style.

If you are looking for a trip of your own, contact Rick at San Diego Kayak Adventures to book yourself on the October trip.

Here is a short video I shot from my camera on the boiler rocks in the afternoon.

I have submitted a couple of different test reports in the last week.

The first is a field report for the Big Agnes Three Wire Bivy  The resting for this bivy is going well, and it is performing fantastically.  I went into testing wondering how I would like bivy camping.  After 2-months, I am happy to report that I am growing more and more fond of the practicalities of bivy camping with each trip.  At this point,  I think I will continue using the Big Agnes bivy beyond the scope of the test.

The second is an Initial Report for a unique cup from England called the Flej Solo Cup.  This cup looks to provide a great set of features for a camping cup,  and I look forward to bringing it into the field with me and seeing how it performs.

Here is how the site describes itself:

“Adventure Trip Magazine is an online magazine catering to those of us who seek out travel destinations beyond the routine. We take you places the average person only dreams of traveling. Trips that create unfamiliar experiences and unforgettable memories.

Adventure travel has become one of the most exciting ways people see the world. An adventure can be defined in several ways. It could be a backpacking jaunt through the Alps, paddling up the coast of California, or spending two weeks learning a new language in a remote village.

We hope to be the place you visit often to dream. Stop by and see where we’re going each day and begin planning your adventure trip of a lifetime now.”

You will even see some content by yours truly,  so  stop by once in a while and fulfill your desire for trippy adventures.