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Show What You've Got
Red cliffs, white mountains, blue skies. The beauty of a cold, clear autumn day, whether climbing the walls of Penitente Canyon, floating the Green, or biking a rim rock trail, still gets me all teary eyed. For some, late fall is akin to purgatory - a vast sports desert suspended between hot summer days on the trail and waist-deep spring powder. But for people like me, autumn can provide the ultimate outdoor experience - after a long spring and summer of training, now's the time to show what you've got - whether it be trail running, biking, climbing or early-season skiing. With weather turning colder, days getting shorter and snow falling, every excursion is something to be revered. Rivers are running clear, and the fishing is great. It's also hunting season - good luck stocking your freezers for the winter - and non-hunters, remember to wear bright colors!
K2 Mt. Baker AT Ski
After years of following the European's lead in ski design, K2 has made a "truly American AT ski." It is wider and more aggressive than traditional AT skis, with a 15.0 progressive sidecut and 2 sheets of metal to smooth out choppy backcountry snow. Named after Washington's Mt. Baker (which holds the world snowfall record with an average of more than 600" a season) the ski measures 124-88-111, top to bottom, and weighs in at 1950 grams (for the 174cm length. It also comes in 167cm and 181cm sizes). The Mt. Baker, with Titanal metal laminate construction, is designed for soft snow, but is said to hold its own in hardpack. $529; (800) 246-1617, www.k2sports.com - NPB
Uvex Wing S Ultra Pro Helmet
So sue me. I'm a helmet holdout and always have followed the rule, "if you need a helmet, you shouldn't be there in the first place." But I've changed my mind about skiing. First it was with my children, who don't have the situational awareness needed to avoid kamikaze snowboarders at our local area. Then it was my husband, who immediately heads for the chutes and cliff bands. Then I entered a race where a ski helmet was required equipment. And now, I'll admit, I'm born again. A good helmet keeps your head warm, as well as safe. The new Wing S Ultra Pro helmet features two forward vents and a series of rear exhaust vents in the spoiler of the helmet. The inner shell is made of shock-absorbing polystyrene (EPS), and a soft, synthetic material around the ears that is super soft, moisture-absorbing and anatomically shaped for excellent comfort and a really good fit. You won't feel like a bobble-head doll; the helmet feels and looks sleek. The shell has a soft metallic finish that accepts UVEX chin guards and comes in blue chrome, black chrome and silver chrome in five sizes from XS-XL. $119; (888) 616-UVEX, www.uvexsports.com - NPB
Eureka N!ergy 1210 Tent
I believed I had become car-camping elite after figuring how to equip a 3-person dome tent with over-kill padding and a hanging light. (Hello, anybody home! - you're still crawling, banging your head and risking a knee to your 3-year-old with every nature call!) One night in the Eureka N!ergy 1210 tent showed how the other side really lives. Roomy enough to sleep at least six comfortably, the 1210 ( (12'x10'x6'4") is the middle-sized model of what this lightweight-tent veteran considers a line of huge tents. If I can stand in it, it's huge. Eureka has been getting it right with inexpensive tents for many years. In the early '90s, I became a believer by using under-$100 models as a wilderness ranger; I was not keen on using my expensive tents (the feds didn't provide us tents) and the Eureka Stormshield fly staved off water even in big storms. Now I'm back in a Eureka tent, this one with two rooms (divided by a removable divider), four windows and, get this, an E! Power Pak system to power lights, fans and a mattress pump (with the appropriate plugs and adaptors). The E! Power system is a wiring harness that is integrated into each tent. The system includes three 12v DC (cigarette lighter-type) outlets at various locations inside the tent. The outlets are powered by the E! PowerT Pak, a portable sealed, lead acid battery that is rechargeable by 110v AC current or by a running car via a 12v DC connector. When on, the integrated light system casts a cool blue light. I know what you're thinking, and I don't care - I'm a family guy now. Back home, we put up the tent in the backyard where daughter and friend spent hours playing in it; then we had another fun sleep-out. The self-supporting 1210 is easier to set up than I expected, using just two cross poles that slip through sleeves on the tent top and are clipped along the sides to the corners where the ends of the poles slip onto metal inserts. The fly's fabric - 75D StormShield polyester, 800 mm coating - is amazing, protecting the tent from the wettest weather. But at 21 lbs, 2 oz, the tent is heavy, with much of the weight in the poles. Because we are talking car camping, the 1210 is a great deal at $249.90, a price that includes the E! Power Pak, an option. The 1210 also features an E! Power Port, a floor-level zippered opening with a zipper cover to keep rain and bugs out, while providing an easy way to bring in a power cord. The tent also offers a sweep-out section of the doorway bathtub floor that bends forward or can be staked down for easy sweep-outs. Add-on accessories available with the N!ergy tent series include the 12v fan and light unit, ($24.99), 12v cable for charging 12v to 12v ($9.99) and 12v flexible reading light ($4.99); (800) 572-8822, www.eurekatent.com - JN
G3 AviTECH Shovel
If you are skiing or boarding out-of-bounds, you'll want a strong, lightweight shovel. I keep mine in my car when I'm not skiing, in case I get stuck in mud or a snowdrift. The AviTECH weighs only 27.2 ounces and collapses to 18 inches. You can also leave the middle shaft at home, and shave off about 6 ounces and 3 inches. The connector tube and blade are made from aircraft-grade aluminum and hand welded, with an additional heat treatment for even more strength and durability. The D-grip handle is super secure, and the shovel easily lashed onto standard ice-axe loops on any pack. By the cognoscenti, the AviTECH is dubbed the "stash" shovel, because there's a secret compartment in the handle to keep matches and the occasional cigar safe and dry. $76.95; (866) 924-9048, www.genuineguidegear.com -NPB
Mountain Hardware Descent DT Women's Jacket
Weighing in at a feather-weight 18 ounces (the men's version weighs 1 lb, 7 ounces); the Descent DT jacket is designed for snowsports. I have enough vertical feet logged in mine to rival an ascent of Mt. Everest, and through rain, sleet and snow, the waterproof breathable laminate (ConduitT DT 2.5 Layer Microporous PU Coating with a Monolithic PU Lamination) has never failed. The cut of the women's jacket has plenty of mobility in the shoulders and arms for aggressive poling and a waist that stays in place, even when your arms are above your head. I love the micro-chamois lined collar and chin guard - no more irritating scratching. While the jacket looks sleek and relatively free of excess bells and whistles, there's a lot more than meets the eye, with an interior waterbottle pocket on one side and another one for gloves and goggles. Also inside is an MP3 pocket with an earpiece cord exit. In addition to a lift-ticket ring, there's also a pass holder. A nifty Dry Touch Printing helps keep the jacket from clinging to your skin, so you never get that clammy, claustrophobic feel that's common in so many other waterproof/breathable concoctions. Inside is Mountain Hardwear's MicroClimate Zoning System that strategically welds Yeti FleeceT on the interior for unbeatable comfort and insulation. Sizes: XS-XL in women's, S-XXL in men's. $225 (women's Illusion Pant or men's Defiant pant, both $160); (800) 953-8375, www.mountainhardware.com - NPB
Ecco Snowdrop Boots
Lili Bouchard here again. I like my boots because they are pink, and not Barbie boots, because my Dad hates Barbies. A lot of my friends in 2nd grade wear boots, but they get blisters and can't run on the playground because of their high heels. Last winter I tried six different pairs of boots. Some were too clompy to wear to school, so when it would snow, I had to carry my tennis shoes in my backpack. Sometimes my feet would get sweaty, and sometimes my toes got cold. This year, I told my mom that I wanted boots that I could wear everywhere, in my class, and in the snow and rain and mud. We haven't had any snow yet, but I've worn the boots in the rain and mud and school. And I just brush them off when they get dirty. Lili's Mom here. The Snowdrop Tall Shaft boot is as close to perfect as parents can get when outfitting a child for foul weather. Uppers are suede leather and synthetic and lined with Gore-Tex. They are cute without being fussy, and fashionable without lots of bells and whistles. The lining is a super-soft synthetic fleece. An ankle collar holds the foot in place and prevents the traditional "slop-n-slip" that often accompanies children's foul weather footwear. The boots are really lightweight, and the sole is flat (no heel), with rugged tread and excellent arch support. Parents might wince at the price tag, but these boots are designed to be worn for more than a single season and can easily be passed down from child to child. $110, www.eccousa.com - NPB
Jytte Rock Art Hat
Call it karma or just plain feeling good about supporting grass-roots business. When you buy a Jytte hat, your entire body feels good, along with your head. Based in Ketchum, Idaho, Jytte makes high-quality, colorful hats that are made in the USA. Not to sound too PC, but Jytte is one of those small companies that makes you feel good to support. Fabric remnants are recycled to make bags, mittens and pet beds. The Rock Art is made out of 100% Merino wool. Inside, you'll discover a lamb-soft microfleece inner headband that doesn't itch or sweat. Last winter, my Jytte hat was a daily fixture on my head, going from gnarly chutes on my tele skis to hanging out with the soccer moms in the school playground. The only trouble is picking your color because each hat is a work of art, and connoisseurs will end up wanting one of each. $33; (208) 788-1226, www.jytte.com - NPB
Venture Euphoria Snowboard
The Venture Snowboards Euphoria snowboard features a powder-specific design that is said to excel in the deepest conditions, agile enough to navigate tight chutes and trees and virtually chatter proof when bombing open steeps. The board's tapered shape, stiff tail and 75-cm stance offset keep you comfortably in the back seat. A softer, wider nose increases float and delivers effortless, surf inspired turns. The Euphoria is available in three waist widths and a variety of lengths. It features Venture's standard bookmatched, symmetrical core made from sustainably harvested hardwoods, quadratic sidecuts for mindreading responsiveness and quick-turn initiation, and triaxial fiberglass for enhanced stability and control. $535; (888) 865-3410, www.venturesnowboards.com -JNPost a comment
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