Hiking with Camera

On this hot summer weekend, we decided to head out for a relaxing trip in the Chinook Pass / Bumping Lake area. Leaving late on a Friday, we decided to take it easy, camping at Dewey Lake on Friday night, American Lake on Saturday, and taking a short day hike out to Cougar Lakes, being sure […]

Gem Lake is an oft overlooked destination for hikers. Snow Lake is a busy trail, which tends to dissuade serious hikers, and Gem Lake can be a long day for those less than serious. But, the escape from the crowds at Snow Lake, and the beauty of this subalpine pond make it a perfect destination. […]

This breathtaking alpine hike is a pleasant alternative to the busy Enchantments. Although perhaps not quite as beautiful as the Core Enchantments, the alpine lakes along Icicle Ridge are among the most spectacular in the state. But this hike is not for the feint of heart. With 4500 feet of elevation gain to Lake Edna […]

Having attacked this area of the Alpine Lakes region from several different angles, I’ve put together an optimal loop hike that would hit some of the most beautiful spots in Washington, all in one, 4–6 day loop. The planned route would start and end out of the Hyas Lake and Cathedral Pass Trailheads (both in the […]

In the past few months, I’ve shared what I carry on my overnight trips, however, I have a finely tuned system that works for me. Not everyone can get away with what I bring and leave behind. I highly recommend that every backpacker have their own checklist for what to bring. I can’t tell you […]

As most backpackers and avid outdoors folk know, traveling in the backcountry holds certain risks. For many, that risk is managed through adherence to bringing what were originally known as the 10 essentials. The original essentials list has morphed and grown over the years, but it comes down to the main concept, bring what you […]

I am what you might call a gear head. I’m not completely obsessed. I don’t go around telling everyone about what gear I have and asking them what gear they have, but I do spend a significant amount of time researching gear in the internet and building lists to help determine the best combination of […]

One of the most common questions I’m asked is about hiking with a camera. What do I bring? How much does it weigh? And how do I carry it? The short answer is, it depends, but let me take a bit to explain how I carry my camera in different situations. General Philosophy I know […]

Earlier in the year, I explained the limitations of my lighter Osprey atoms 50 pack. Beyond 35 pounds, it tends to get uncomfortable, and past 40 it’s downright painful. And with 8 pounds of camera gear, it doesn’t take much to hit up against the upper limits of that pack. A recent trip had me carrying […]

Thanks to my friend who works at Outdoor Research (OR), I’ve recently begun to acquire quite a few pieces from OR. Aside from my bias of knowing someone who works there (and getting the up and up on all the upcoming sales), I really like OR both for the products they put out and for […]