As reported by CNN, one of the 'more popular and photographed arches' in Arches National Park collapsed this week.   No one reported seeing it collapse and luckily no one was hurt.  The article also says it was the first collapse of a major arch since Landscape Arch fell in 1991, but I’m pretty sure that Landscape Arch is still standing (I saw it only a few years ago) even if it did drop a few big pieces back in '91.  The Wikipedia page seems to confirm that it is still standing. 

I'm glad that I got to see Wall Arch before it collapsed along with so many of the other great formations at the park.  If you haven't been to Utah or you've got some National Parks on your list that you've been putting off for a long time, hopefully this is a good reminder to get outdoors and see what you can.  The same forces that created so much of our beautiful landscape are certainly capable of changing it at any time. 

While there are still plenty of other arches and interesting rock formations to keep visitors going to Arches for a long time to come, it’s a stark reminder that many of the rock formations that have become iconic parts of our landscape are really not to be taken for granted.  As my father said today: “First the Old Man of the Mountain and now this?”

I just came across this miraculous contraption and I know I’ve finally found the solution for making coffee on my next backpacking trip.   The GSI H2JO.  It only weighs 1.8 ounces, attaches right onto any wide mouth water bottle and includes a screened filter for the grounds.   All you do is add boiling water and you’re set with no mess to clean and no picking coffee grounds out of your teeth.  Sold.

When it comes to coffee I consider myself to have a slightly below average addiction but nevertheless I’m a big fan.  I don’t have to drink it every morning, but there’s plenty of mornings when I do.   Often (during the colder months) I’m drinking it as much for the morning warmth as for the caffeine.  During the summer I’ll usually just drink it on an ‘as needed’ basis depending on how alert I need to be in that first hour after waking.    I’ll also sometimes get a cup in the middle of the day to combat those long hours, but I’m definitely not in the ‘can’t function without coffee’ demographic.  The caffeine aside though, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t just love the taste of coffee, especially if we're talking about an iced coffee during the summer.   

One time when I feel like I need a cup of coffee in the morning is when I’m camping or backpacking.  Whether it’s waking up and knowing I’ve got a big day of hiking in front of me or just sitting around the campfire from the night before with some beer-induced cobwebs in my head, there’s nothing like a nice cup of coffee when you’re waking up in the woods.

When it comes to car camping, getting your fresh coffee fix can be simple with the right equipment.   There are a number of metal coffee pots that you can put right on your camp stove or fire pit and brew some ground coffee with minimal fuss.    But backpacking is another story.  When every ounce counts it’s impossible to justify bringing along a coffee pot that can brew and filter the grounds and so I usually end up with no choice but bringing along some instant coffee.  Amazingly, there’s a few words in the English language that sum up both how instant coffee tastes and how it makes me feel.  I’ll refrain, but let’s just say I’d be perfectly happy to never have a cup of instant coffee again.

I’d be curious to know if anyone has tried the GSI H2JO but I can’t imagine how anything could prevent it from being awesome.  Let me know your thoughts in the comments, I’m going to go get a cup of coffee.

(Sorry for the lack of blog posts as of late, Trek Light Gear has been keeping me busy and I promise to make every effort to make blogging a more frequent affair)

I came across this article yesterday which had some great parts worth sharing:

“The next time you’re out of gift ideas for someone, maybe you’ll consider a hammock.  

“I couldn’t imagine a better Mother’s Day gift,” says Cranch, 56, the program director of the Retired & Senior Volunteer Program in Fresno, Calif. “It’s total relaxation” when you’re in it.

Tom Boehm of Madera, Calif., also received his first hammock as a gift. His wife, Tammie, gave it to him almost a decade ago for his 40th birthday.

“It kind of surprised me, but it’s a pretty cool idea,” says Boehm, 49, co-owner of S&J Lumber in Madera. “I never really thought about having one, but I really like it and use it quite a bit.”

As Cranch and Boehm have discovered, once you’ve experienced the weightless, rocking sensation that comes with resting in a hammock, you might not be able to do without this leisure activity again.”

I especially got a kick out of the part about how hard it can be to get in and out of a hammock:

“Once you’ve found a hammock to your liking and put it up properly, getting in and out of one can be a balancing act if you’ve never attempted it before. 

John O’Connell, the executive vice president of sales and merchandising for Long-Island-City, N.Y.-based 1800mattress.com, has found himself on the ground trying to get into a hammock.

The company sells one style of hammock in addition to mattresses. The hammock had just been set it up in the showroom.

“I said, ‘This is kind of neat.’ I never sat on one before, and the whole thing flipped. I just didn’t really read or listen to the instructions.”

Now he knows. Stand with your backside facing the hammock in the middle of the hammock. Then “I pull the edge to the back of my knees, position myself in the center, spin my backside and then lay (down) my feet,” he says. “If you don’t do it that way and sit in the center, you’re going to flip.”

Any newcomers who want to climb into the hammock at Cranch’s family cabin will get tips on using it first.

“We give people a quick tutorial about getting into it,” she writes in an e-mail. “Aim your fanny at the very center of the hammock. Sit down, then quickly fling your arms and legs into position and make minor adjustments in balance with your fanny.

“I can’t tell you how many people have been ejected on their first attempt at getting into the thing, but once you have the knack, it is heavenly comfortable.”

Obviously they’ve never experienced the joy of the Trek Light Gear No-Flip hammock design.   I’ve met so many people who are genuinely afraid to get in a hammock because of the number of times they’ve been dumped on the ground by other hammocks.   To me a hammock shouldn’t be about keeping your balance or needing an instruction manual to get in it without getting hurt.   How are you supposed to relax when a wrong movement can send you flying on the ground?

In the last three days we’ve had over 5,000 7,000 people visit the blog from StumbleUpon.   That’s a huge spike in traffic for the blog and I figured it’s a good opportunity for me to welcome you and let you know what you’ve stumbled upon.

Trek Life is one of those company blogs that strives not to be a company blog.   The blog exists as an extension of Trek Light Gear, an outdoor gear company based in Boulder, Colorado.   We definitely will talk about topics that directly relate to our products from time to time, from the benefits of compact reusable bags to why you should own a lightweight camping hammock.   But we’re not here to market our products or give you a sales pitch in every blog post, we’re here to connect with our visitors who share a passion for the outdoors.   That passion for the outdoors can cover everything from saving the environment to learning about how to stay warm on your next hiking trip.   Maybe you’re an aspiring outdoor chef looking to learn some camping cooking tips, or you’re curious to know how hammock therapy is helping premature babies.  We’ll always do our best to provide you with quality content to help you ‘Trek Lightly’ on this planet.

We just launched the blog in May of 2008 so we’re really just getting rolling and we hope you like what you see so far.  If you’d like to get more involved and expand the conversation you should visit the Trek Life Forum as well.   You should also go ahead and subscribe to our RSS feed so you’ll be able to stay current with all the latest Trek Life postings without needing to check the blog every day.

P.S.  As a special welcome to our StumbleUpon friends I’d also like to offer a coupon code for 10% off anything in the Trek Light Gear store.  Just enter the code STUMBLE0708 during checkout, the coupon will be only be valid for one week so if you’re reading this post go ahead and take advantage of the offer now!

A little Sunday laugh, courtesy of Modern Hiker:

(For the uninitiated, the picture is of a garbage can you’ll find on public trails and campsites that have a concealed handle to prevent animals from getting in…)

On Wednesday, June 25, thousands of people will leave their cars at home and take two wheels to work. 

The League of American Bicyclists has been sponsoring National Bike Month and Bike to Work Day since 1956. Throughout most of the country, these events take place in May, but a few years ago, the state legislature officially declared June as Colorado Bike Month, with the fourth Wednesday of the month being Bike to Work Day.

There will be breakfast stations setup all over the Boulder and Denver metro areas serving up delicious morning treats, so even if you have to leave your house extra early to get to work on time you’ll still be able to squeeze in a good breakfast to start your day.   If you live in Colorado, get that bike out on Wednesday and take part in a great event.   If you don’t live in Colorado, help us celebrate anyways by biking, walking or taking public transportation to work on Wednesday!

About 6 years ago I purchased a 12qt Dutch Oven from Lodge, along with a tripod for setting it up over the campfire and, as the title says, my perspective on camping and camping meals has never been the same.   From stews to chili to lasagna and baked chicken, it's amazing how easy it is to cook a big hearty meal miles from the conveniences of home with the dutch oven.

The traditional way to use the dutch oven is to place a variable number of coals underneath it and on top and just let it sit, usually in a small hole dug just for the purpose.  The cast iron heats amazingly well and disperses its heat evenly, allowing you to literally bake the contents inside instead of the usual campfire style of grilling, pan frying, cooking on a stick, etc.  Change the number of coals and you can easily adjust the baking temperature.  Now that you've got a portable oven to cook with, it's amazing the recipes that open up to you - cornbread, cobbler, pizza, baked casseroles, roast chicken, you name it.   If you cook it in the oven at home, you can make it in the woods.

The tripod accessory throws the traditional baking method on its head, but it actually tends to be the way I use it the most.  With the tripod you just hang the dutch oven right over the flames.   So there's a good amount of direct heat on the bottom, but thanks to the cast iron and the tight lid you still generate a lot of indirect heat inside the oven. 

The first meal I ever had from a dutch oven was a delicious stew, cooked using the tripod, and it's probably no coincidence that stews are also my 'old faithful' meal in the dutch oven.    It's just so easy to throw a bunch of carrots, potatoes, celery, meat, and water into the oven, set it up over the fire and kick back and wait for the stew to be ready (for real simplicity just chop all the veggies before you head out and the meal is literally as easy as adding water or soup base).  

The dutch oven even adds an extra layer of entertainment to sitting around the fire. Instead of just staring into the flames you get to also watch as the stew does its thing and do the occasional stirring (and tasting of course).  I'll never forget the first time I passed out a bunch of bowls to my brave camp mates and began dishing out ladles of warm stew or soup around the campfire.  Picture any old Western you've seen and you'll probably remember a scene where a group of cowboys are sitting around a campfire dishing out servings of beans from a pot hanging over the campfire.   It's easy to see why the dutch oven brings along an old fashioned feel to it.  But, the moment your fellow campers realize you're serving up some garlic pesto chicken, baked ziti or blueberry cobbler instead of the usual hot dogs and buns, you'll erase any notions of the rustic cowboy scene in yours or anyone else's mind.  

A dutch oven is certainly no piece of gear for a backpacker, but for those car camping trips where you can load up on the cold beers and good food, there's really no reason to go without it.   And, take it from me, there's nothing like filling up on a bowl of delicious stew and then kicking back in your lightweight camping hammock and falling asleep gently under the stars.  

Let me know if you already use a dutch oven and what you love to cook or, if this article inspires you to go out and get a dutch oven, be sure to report back and let me know how it's changed your culinary exploits around the fire.

If you've got some good recipes to share, please post them in the Outdoor Chefs Unite! section of our Forum.  I'll definitely be posting some of my favorites soon...

A very encouraging development from Best Buy:

Under pressure to help dispose some of the electronic waste it helped create, Best Buy Co. is testing a free program that will offer consumers a convenient way to ensure millions of obsolescent TVs, old computers and other unwanted gadgets don’t poison the nation’s dumps.

(Via Best Buy testing free e-waste recycling program - Going Green- msnbc.com)

I’m always amazed at how difficult it still seems to be to do simple ‘green’ things like recycle or properly dispose of your waste.   You know you’re not supposed to throw your electronics in with the regular trash, but you can’t put them in your recycling bin either, so what do you do?   Currently, you have to contact a group like Colorado’s own Eco-Cycle and find a local recycling center where you can drop it off and also pay a fee while you’re at it.  Or, depending on the manufacturer of your equipment you can sometimes return it straight to them.    Dell has implemented a great, free, recycling program for their branded equipment and, if you purchase new equipment from them, they’ll even offer to recycle your old PC and monitor for free as well.  The only problem is, Dell is out in front in a lot of ways and there are just as many major manufacturers that either don’t make it easy for you to recycle their equipment or they charge you a fee for doing so.

More...

What’s the longest amount of time you’ve ever walked for?  

Over the weekend (and extending into the week), three people in Boulder broke the world record by walking for four days and four nights – 103 hours!   It was part of a new event that’s now spread worldwide and is known as an Extra Mile Endurathon.  The walkers are only allowed 10 minute breaks at intervals throughout the event to do whatever they want – rest, eat, use the bathroom, try to sleep, etc.

The previous world record of 102 hours was set in Buenos Aires last year and the walkers in Boulder were determined from the start not just to beat their fellow competitors but to try to set the new world record as well.  

From 103 hours: Boulder walkers break world Endurathon record:

“Three determined athletes in Boulder broke the world record for endurance walking together early this morning when they stopped their 103-hour trek at the Lazy Dog Sports Bar & Grill, 1346 Pearl St., and had a beer.”

The emphasis is mine of course.  They stopped and had a beer!  Now those are my kind of athletes.

More...

Living in Boulder and being so close to the mountains, it's easy to squeeze in a quick hike at the drop of a hat.  But when you're going on a short hike close to home it's even easier to head off on the trail unprepared. 

When the sun is shining and it's 80 degrees at the base of the trail, it's easy to feel like an extra layer is the last thing you need.  I can't tell you how many times I've headed off with just a T-shirt and shorts and quickly regretted it once the sun ducks behind some clouds or you start gaining some altitude.    Colorado is definitely known for its quick and sometimes drastic weather changes, but no matter where you are it's easy to get caught by surprise by a storm or a temperature drop. 

Here's a few insulation tips courtesy of Trailspace.com:

- Extra socks can be used on feet and hands.

- Don't judge by how you feel hiking uphill; you'll cool off once you stop moving.

- Anticipate whether you're likely to warm up or cool down and adjust layers in advance; your clothes will stay drier and your temp better regulated.

(From The 10 Essentials: Insulation)

I have a great Capilene pullover from Patagonia that I usually take with me on all summer hikes now no matter how warm it is when I head out.   It's thin and definitely won't keep me dry in a downpour, but when that chill sets in it provides just the right amount of warmth to keep me comfortable.  It's lightweight enough that I can wrap it around my waist or stuff it in a day pack and I hardly notice it's there.   Unlike cotton, the Capilene doesn't lose its ability to insulate when it gets wet which is important to remember.   Your favorite long sleeve shirt may be a comfortable hiking companion, but if it gets wet from sweat or rain it becomes useless as an insulation layer.

What do you bring on your day hikes for insulation?