I’ve spent the majority of my life tromping around the mountains, mostly as a “weekend warrior” but more recently as a “weekday warrior.” I don’t consider myself to be an expert in any particular discipline, nor do I have any special certifications. My only credentials are 50 years of experience in a broad range of mountain sports. Nowadays, I enjoy a mixture of day-hiking, backpacking, scrambling, alpine climbing, backcountry skiing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, mountain biking, crag climbing, canyoneering, and downhill telemark skiing.
Over the course of a half-century engaged in numerous mountain sports, I’ve owned a lot of equipment and developed a lot of opinions. I’m also often asked by other people about mountain-sports equipment—what I like, what I don’t like, what I recommend, what I tweak, etc. The gear reviews presented on this website consolidate my opinions regarding key pieces of equipment that I either use now, have used in the past, or have observed being used by my mountain partners.
Along with reviewing gear, I have created packing lists for backpacking trips and overseas mountain treks. I have also derived a variety of tips, tricks, hacks, and procedures for modifying gear or dealing with difficult travel situations. Additionally, for the benefit of residents of the Puget Sound metropolitan area, I have derived a list of recommended hiking, scrambling, ski touring, and snowshoeing destinations in the busy Interstate-90 corridor.
My gear reviews, packing lists, mountain tips, and trip recommendations can be found via the links shown below.
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Mountain Gear Reviews
Reviews of Selected Gear for Mountain Sports
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Mountain Packing Lists
Packing Lists & Gear Comments for Multi-Day Mountain Trips
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Trailcat Tips
Tips for Various Gear Modifications, Procedures & Hacks
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I-90 Trip Recommendations
Recommended Hikes, Scrambles, Ski Tours & Snowshoe Treks along I-90
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