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I'm the current "equipment manager" for my local outdoors club. The club owns a bunch of backpacking gear that it loans out to members. Think "REI Rentals" but cheaper. I've had to replace the shock-cord in several BA Copper Spurs owned by the club. I used shock cord I purchased from...

I'm leading a small group including three beginners to the Winds in August. It will be my third time there, and I can't wait! Thanks for the pics. Got me itching, too. :-D

I want to re-visit the sleeping pads you were discussing earlier. Keep in mind that when sleeping bags are tested for their "EN" temperature rating, they: 1) Test assuming the user is wearing a base layer while sleeping: socks, long underwear, LS top. 2) The test assumes the user is also...

A significant consideration may be time to filter, and what to do if you're above treeline and looking for a way to hang the gratify setup so that it works. If water is plentiful on the trail, a 5-10 minute periodic rest stop can be timed to coincide with a water crossing where everyone's water...

We did it a an out and back. Our original itinerary was: Sunshine Meadow -> Porcupine Meadows or Police Meadows Porcupine Meadows -> Lake Magog Dayhike Nubbin/Nub Peak Lake Magog -> over Wonder Pass - to Allenby Junction Allenby Jct -> Porcupine Meadows Porcupine->Sunshine meadow There were...

We were in the area mid-September this year. We didn't make it up to Berg Lake this time, but instead hiked into Mt Assiniboine/Lake Magog from the Sunshine Meadows ski resort trail head. If you consider doing THAT, I can share our original itinerary and experience. For more information, I...

Here's my proposed itinerary: Day 1 - Big Sandy over Jackass Pass to Cirque - up to Bear Lake. Picked partly for isolation from climbers and equestrians staying in the Cirque Day 2 - Bear Lake to Loch Leven Day 3 - Loch Leven past Grave Lake to Baptiste Lake Day 4 - Baptiste Lake over Hailey...

In 2013 I attempted to hike in the Cirque of the Towers area, but had to pull out on the 2nd day because one member had a bad sinus infection, and another got AMS. The rest of us salvaged the trip by spending 4 days in the Tetons. I'm headed back in 2015, but have to go about 2 weeks earlier...

Yes, I've been on the Manistee River Trail. I did the loop (North Country Trail north on the west side of the river, and the MRT south on the east side of the river) with a small group. I found the MRT much more scenic than the NCT segment. I haven't been to the Porcupine Mountains in the...

Thanks, Nick!

SouthEast Michigan does not contain any glamorous or awe inspiring backpacking destinations. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is 4 hours away. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is 6 hours away. Those looking for more challenging destinations need to head further west into the Upper...

Interesting comments about early morning conditions. My plan is to camp near Shadow lake the day before. I wanted to get over Texas Pass early so that we'd have time to set up tents and spend the rest of the day exploring the cirque of the towers. My itinerary puts us at Shadow Lake on...

Thanks, Dan.

Awesome photos. Really inspiring! Impressed that you carried a big Canon DSLR. I'm always worried too much about pack weight to carry anything bigger than a P&S.

I think I'm pretty settled on a route next year that takes me and my group from Big Sandy, up toward Pyramid Lake and a day hike visit to East Fork/Desolation Valley, then back south and up Washakie Creek, over Texas Pass into the Cirque, and finally out over Jackass Pass and back to the trail...

Just a sanity check here. If I pass through Cirque of the Towers in mid-late August, will Texas Pass be passable without the need for crampons or ice axes? I gather from the off-trail guidebook that the answer is yes. However, I've seen some trip report photos showing some snow at the top...

Thanks for the responses. I ordered the Falcon Guide. pudgy_groundhog, I appreciate the perspective. To be clear, it wasn't two weeks of non-stop backpacking in the ADK. The first week was 3 days/2 nights with wife and a friend in the High Peaks, followed by a couple days of day hiking...

I just purchased the off-trail book by Nancy Pallister. After doing two weeks in the Adirondacks, where I was fine, but my wife overestimated her fitness level, I'm thinking of making our backpacking trip to WY next year much easier than originally planned. Stick to trails, reduce the number...

Thanks. For us low landers living at 600 feet above sea level, I don't mind the long walk getting there from Big Sandy. We'll need the time to acclimate to the elevation. Looks like a guy could spend LOTS of vacation weeks in the Winds, and never get bored! Are you talking the East Fork...

Here is a part of the USGS topo map with the pass circled in red. Thanks for the tip, Dan. I just ordered Nancy's book from the publisher today. I'm thrilled to hear it's covered in the book. Hopefully there is some more information about that valley and the lakes in there? Or, if I...