Mount Washington Summit Attempt January 23rd

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1 Home About Contact Photos Search GearHead: Osprey Talon 44 Pack Gear: Black Diamond Raven Ice Axe Winter Backpacking essentials. CampTheSummit HowTo: Hot waxing a snowboard 5 Jan Mount Washington Summit Attempt January 23rd Posted in Winter Sports, climbing, hiking by patrick No Comments Home of the worlds worst weather! New Hampshires Mount Washington is Highest point in the Northeastern united states. Standing 6288 ft above sea level and providing a 4,280 ft elevation gain from Pinkham Notch to the summit. I intend to climb it with my friend John on saturday afternoon, and produce a video podcast along the way. I will be monitoring the weather closely over the next 2 and a half weeks to get a faint idea what to expect, and as long as the weather looks good the morning of the 23rd, we will be setting out from Pinkham Notch just before Dawn on the 23rd. our intended route is Tuckerman Ravine trail to the Lion s Head trail which reconvenes with Tuckerman Ravine trail then pushes to the summit. as you may have noticed i am quite excited for this trip, and hope for the best weather possible. (which is asking a lot i know.) after this trip keep your eyes on the site for a video post or blog depending on how the weather treats my cameras, but furthermore, lookout for a giveaway coming in February. I havent decided what im giving away yet, but i think im going to do it through Twitter. I will keep you posted on whats going on with the trip, and i hope to keep in touch during the weekend of the 23rd as much as possible. -Patrick 1 of 15 1/6/10 2:03 PM

2 4 Jan GearHead: Osprey Talon 44 Pack Posted in Featured, Gear, Winter Sports, backpacking, climbing, hiking by patrick No Comments whether your an avid Mountaineer, all out trekker, or just a day hiker odds are you have some stuff you generally take along for your adenture. you need something to carry that stuff in, because frankly, who wants to carry a water bottle, climbing rope, crampons, axe, etc in there arms? not I. thats why i believe having a pack designed for outdoor excursions is essential to any fun adventure. believe me as im sure you are well aware, there are a countless number of bags on the market of all shapes and sizes, but recently i stumbled across what seems to be a versatile multi-use pack: Osprey Talon 44 Pack. let me start with the basic specs on this pack. it is a 2700 cubic inch/ 44 liter pack with a load of features and is marketed for Cragging and Climbing to Over Night and Thru hiking! Weight and Constuction first of all let me say that this pack is LIGHT! weighing only 2lbs 10oz unloaded. the materials may come off as cheap at first look, but i assure you that is not the case, and with a lifetime warranty from Osprey to back it, there are no worries here. weight is shaved on this pack by cutting out material where ever it is neccessary, from the punch out centers of the padding in the straps, to the very simple buckles keeping the pack on your back. Size and volume when i first pulled the pack out of its shipping box i was a little taken back by the small size of the pack, and thought to myself there was no way i am going to fit all the gear i need in this pack, but i was quite wrong. once i loosened some of the compression straps this thing started swallowing gear like a garbage disposal. i managed to stuff my sleeping bag, single person tent, cooking set, stove, fuel canister, shirt and pants, sleeping pad strap to the outside, and still had room to spare for food and other items. this pack in my opinion could easily support you for a 4 day trip, and maybe longer depending on how you pack and the weight of your gear. the straps and waist belt seemed to distribute the load comfortably and evenly. one downfall i did notice is that if the main compartment of the bag is quite filled, the top compartment can seem a little cramped, but other than that no major complaints 2 of 15 1/6/10 2:03 PM

3 on capacity. Compartments the Talon 44 offers a few different ways to organize your gear. it features a top loading main compartment that can be accessed by the top draw string opening, and also throught the sleeping bag opening in the b ottom, this allows for easy access to your stuff regardless of where it is in the main compartment. next there is a front pouch made of a stretchy material which is great for stuffing layers that you may take on and off during your day, and ive even seen people carry a frisbee stuffed in this area. on top of the bag is a removable top compartment which is great for your small odds and ends, and a small key pouch lives inside this compartment as well. a really nice feature on this pack, though i have not got to test it usability yet is the external hydration pocket which is between the bag and back panel. quite possibly my favorite part of this pack is the zipper pouches on the hip belts, i have worn several packs and have always wanted this feature, and i was n0t let down. i find myself stashing snacks in them, knives, sunglasses etc. they really make the stuff you use a lot easily accessible. last but not least, the side compartments on this pack make carrying to 32 oz water bottles a snap, which surprised me because i did not expect them to stretch that much. Other features when looking around the inside of this pack i noticed what appears to be a water proof coating though i have not tested it to see, regardless it seems that some attempt to seal out the moisture has been made. dual ice axe loops, tool tie offs and bungee tool loops will make all the mountaineers in the crowd happy, the bungee loops also work great with trekking poles. another great feature of this pack is the compression strap located under the lid which will help climbers keep there rope at bay to and from the crag. finally one of the major conveniences with this pack is the strap keeps which help keep excess strap out of the way and make on the fly adjustment as easy as a tug on the loops created by the keeps. Concluding thoughts 3 of 15 1/6/10 2:03 PM

4 this pack is a great buy for someone who needs a way to get his gear out to the crag, or the weekend mountaineer, or someone who plans on a light weight 4 day trip. it is not without its flaws though the few i mentioned are by no means deal breakers. this is a fine little pack with a lot of potential uses, and it doesnt hurt that Osprey makes some darn good looking packs either. Additonal Photos 3 Jan Gear: Black Diamond Raven Ice Axe Posted in Featured, Gear, Winter Sports, climbing by patrick No Comments A mountaineer without an ice axe is like a bird with out wings, they are both kinda stuck without much mobility. that why its important to have a piece of equipment your comfortable with. i just recently picked up a Black Diamond Raven Axefrom my local shop. 4 of 15 1/6/10 2:03 PM

5 From the first time I held the Raven in my hands it felt comfortable, my hands wrapped around it perfectly, and weighing in at 452 grams(without leash) for the 60 cm model, it felt light, but not cheap though there are lighter axes on the market if you are concerned about weight. where i purchased my axe, the Black Diamond Slider Leashwas included. i really like this leash over other ones i have seen because it is long and attaches to the head of the axe allowing it to be carries by the adze or pick without unleashing, also the slider that tightens the wrist cuff slides very smoothly. I recently got to use this axe a bit on a hike at Ricketts Glen State Park in Pennsylvania which is known for its high amount of ice due to the waterfalls along the trail. though i did not fall and need to self arrest, i tested out many other things with this axe and was please with the performance. playing around on a column of ice, the adze easily allowed me to chop steps in the ice giving me much better purchase with my crampons. while traversing a steep slope near an ice fall, the pick helped my stay attached to the 45 degree slope as i made my way to the other side. the pick also faired quite well on the many columns of ice along the narrow trail, one or two swift swings of the axe into the ice gave me additional confidence while moving around some of the more tricky areas of the falls trail. finally the point on this axe is sharp and digs in easily, it also has a knock out in the center for a carabiner or sling. using this ice axe made my travel along the falls trail much more enjoyable, and i hope to get to use it more rigorously in a few weeks when i head to Mt. Washington in New Hampshire. if you are looking for an axe to get into general Mountaineering and don t want to break the bank, this axe can be had with the leash for under a hundred dollars, and as alway Black Diamond did a fine job with this piece of equipment. 31 Dec Farewell 2009, Welcome What are your adventure goals? Posted in Geocaching, Winter Sports, backpacking, climbing, hiking by patrick 1 Comment With the end of a year, and a decade merely hours away, its time to start thinking about 2010, what are your goals for the coming year. i myself plan to make much more time for climbing and backpacking, as well as make a trip to the top of some of the larger mountains America has to offer. have any special plans or intentions? I d love to hear from you, leave a comment on this post for your 2010 adenture goals. 28 Dec Upcoming event: New Years Hike with National Audubon Society 5 of 15 1/6/10 2:03 PM

6 Posted in Winter Sports, hiking by patrick No Comments 21 Dec When: Saturday 1/2/2010 1:30 3:30 Where: Nescopeck State Park, Drums, Pa What: 3-Mile winter hike through the Northeast Pennsylvania Mountains. More info available here Looking for Contributors for weekly audio podcast Posted in Uncategorized by patrick No Comments Looking For Someone with a love for adventure news! I am trying to put together a simple weekly or bi-weekly audio podcast covering the top adventure stories of the week. there is no need to live near me as i intend to use skype and call recording to perform this podcast, but if you do reside in the Northeast PA area, then we could do some live in studio recordings as well. all you need is a love for adventure and the willingness to talk. if you are interested in contributing please me: patrick@campthesummit.com or leave a voic at Dec Winter Backpacking essentials. Posted in Featured, backpacking, hiking by patrick No Comments By Patrick Gensel Backpacking is a very rewarding and adventurous activity, but can be quite gear intensive, from stoves to backpacks and beyond, each piece of equipment plays its part in the experience. Winter backpacking takes the adventure and dumps a whole new set of challenges on it, requiring special gear. the following is a blow by blow of some of the best types of equipment for winter backpacking and some examples of the top products in each category. Backpack Whats a backpacking trip without a backpack, and not just any backpack, but a comfortable one that fits your body just right. take care in selecting a backpack that fits your budget but also your needs. take into consideration how often you will be backpacking, and for how long. these factors will help you determine capacity needed. be sure to try a few on with some weight in them or if you can rent one to see what works best for you, and never hesitate to ask questions when at your local gear shop or outfitter. packs are commonly measured in Cubic Centimeters, and this size should be taken into consideration when buying a pack. the longer you plan to stay out, and heavier the load you plan to carry, the larger you want your pack to be in cubic centimeters. an example of a great mid-size multiple day pack is The North Face Primero 85 Pack (Spring 2010) 6 of 15 1/6/10 2:03 PM

7 Clothing Keeping warm and dry is probably the most important part of an enjoyable winter backpacking experience, so having the right gear is essential to this. a good set of base layer clothing is vital to trapping heat. i recommend getting a set of Under Armour Cold Gear, orpatagonia Men s Merino 2 Bottoms (Fall 2009)and Patagonia Men s Merino 2 Crew (Fall 2009) it is important that your base layer wicks moisture away from your body to prevent chill, and both of these suggestions do just that. for your feet i suggest wool socks or Under Armour socks. Smart Wool socks are also a great choice, also don t forget to pack a fleece hat that will cover your head and ears. once you have a good set of Base Layer items established you can move on to gloves, boots, pants and jacket. for gloves i suggest a pair that are waterproof gauntlet style gloves that can be cinched tight over the sleeves of your jacket, if it is going to be particularly cold it may be a good idea to bring along a pair of glove liners. you want to make sure you don t skimp in the area of boots, since you will be doing a lot of walking you want to make certain that your boots are extremely comfortable and keep dry. i have been wearing the Asolo Men s Fugitive GTX Boot (Spring 2010) for the past few months and i must say they have broken in quite well, and have stayed super dry in even the wettest conditions, thanks in part to the gore-tex lining. finally you want Pants and a Jacket that will keep you warm and dry, more often than not, on shorter trips i will wear ski pants and jacket, but there is a wide variety of technical clothing available and i fully intend to do a pants and jacket buyer guide at a later time. Asolo Fugitive GTX Stove and Cookware as breathtaking and exciting the the scenery may be, everyones got to stop and eat, so make sure you have the proper gear to cook that back country meal. in the winter having the right stove is essential due to the generally sub-freezing temperature. cannister stoves commonly do not fair to well when the temperature is near or below freezing due to the fact that the compressed liquid has to change into a gaseous state as it exits the fuel cylinder and through the stove in which case i recommend a white gas or multi-fuel stove. white gas and multi-fuel stoves burn liquid fuel that is primed and pumped through the stove allowing them to function at much lower temperatures. peronally i currently only 7 of 15 1/6/10 2:03 PM

8 own a canister stove, but i have heard good things about the multi-fuel burning MSR XGK EX Stove (Spring 2010) weighing in at roughly 16oz the stove is a bit on the heavy side, but that seems to be one of the only down falls. as far as cookware goes, if you are going it alone, or each member will be carrying there own cookware, you can t go wrong with the GSI pinnacle soloist cook set which features a pot, lid, collapsible spork and insulated mug. GSI Pinnacle Soloist Sleep System this is what makes or breaks the night in terms of comfort. for most winter backpacking excursions you probably want something with a temp rating between 0 and 15 degrees Fahrenheit, preferably down filled to cut down on weight. sleeping bags are available in a variety of styles, but one highly regarded, fairly priced mummy bag is the Marmot Never Summer Reg 0 Degree Sleeping Bag (Spring 2010) in addition to a warm sleeping bag, it is probably not a bad idea to carry a sleeping bag liner for an additional degrees of warmth, if you feel it may get cold. and lastly the sleeping system is not complete without a sleeping pad. i recommend an inflatable mattress as they are commonly lighter, adjustable, and pack away tighter. thermarest makes some quality products in the inflatable air mattress department. Thermarest Trail Lite that covers the major components of a backpacking system. the following list comprises other odds and ends that are need, and of course don t forget the obvious such as light/matches, bath tissue, etc. Additional Items headlamp 8 of 15 1/6/10 2:03 PM

9 flashlight spare batteries solar charger(solio) chap stick stuff sack compass earplugs 2 nalgene bottles first aid kit If i have missed any essentials, or there is something you think should be added, please by all means comment and let me know, or me: patrick@campthesummit.com and as always, hike safe, hike often. 12 Dec Climbing in a digital world. Posted in climbing by patrick No Comments The internet, a seemingly endless wealth of knowledge. practically anything you think of can be typed into that infamous google seach box and yield usable results, even for us adventurers who head out into the wild to escape such technology can benefit from the wealth of knowledge that is the internet. i have come across several websites that have helped me greatly and im sure some of you have used one or all of the following tools, but for those of you who haven t, read on. Rockclimbing.com easily the most recognizable in the list, also probably the biggest user base as well. Rockclimbing.com offers climbing news, a very diverse discussion forum, and most importantly(for me at least) a database of crags and routes encompassing the entire world. most of the beta provided for the crags I have visited has been pretty spot on. rockclimbing.com is quite possibly the most complete climbing site out there as far as beta goes. Link Supertopo Supertopo is another forum/route database that seems to focus on the western united states/big wall climbing, they also produce guidebooks to many climbing areas that are available to purchase on the site. supertopo also provides gear reviews and photos. Link Supertopo.com Climbfind the primary function of climbfind is to request and answer partner calls for crags around the world. have been using Climbfind for a few months now, and it has led to some pretty ideal climbing partner situations. the interface has a very modern and social network feel to it(they even tweet out random partner calls to there twitter feed), and the community seems pretty friendly, though it does need to 9 of 15 1/6/10 2:03 PM

10 grow. fortunately i have seen plenty evidence of this since i started using it.(i had to establish my local crags since i was the only one in my area using Climbfind at the time.) in this climbers opinion, Climbfind is probably the best social network for climbers, and hopefully more people will get onto it help this community grow. Link Climbfind 8a.nu Just recently i stumbled on this one, 8a.nu(thats the website address) and it looks to be up and coming in the climbing world, urban climber magazine seems to think so as well. from the little time i have spent with this one, i have gathered that is is a climb logging system, and ranking system. i think the interface is a bit dated looking, but again i have just found this and it may be in its infancy which i think is the case. Link 8a.nu better beta better beta is a different breed then the sites i mentioned above, better beta is an app for phones running googles android os(droid, hero, g1, etc) this stripped down looking application offers up info for crags around the world and offers up the ability to record crag locations and discoveries using your phones GPS radio. once this database gets more attention from users i think that it will prove helpful for climbers with an android phone. better beta can be found in the android marketplace of any android smartphone. if there are any other great climbing tools out there on the net, please feel free to Patrick@campthesummit.com and i will ad them to this post. Help keep climbing areas open for the public to enjoy, Join the Access fund today. 10 Dec 30% 70% off Patagonia, Arcteryx, Marmot and more now at Moosejaw.com CampTheSummit HowTo: Hot waxing a snowboard Posted in Featured, Video Post, Winter Sports by patrick No Comments Want know how to hot wax your snowboard in preparation for the coming season? watch this video. 10 of 15 1/6/10 2:03 PM

11 CampTheSummit HowTo: Hot waxing a snowboard from Patrick Gensel on Vimeo. NO SALES TAX on 2008 Burton at ProBoardShop.com 30 Nov A visit to the Mocanaqua Loop Trail Posted in Geocaching, climbing, hiking by admin No Comments View Moc Loop Trail Green Loop Extended in a larger map Tucked back in the small town of Mocanaqua, off the beaten path lies a hidden gem for hikers, this gem i speak of is the Mocanaqua loop Trail. when i first discovered this place i found it hard to believe there was a place in my own backyard where i could enjoy well over 15 miles of hiking trails, plenty of geocaching, and sport climbing, but its all there. the property where the Mocanaqua Loop Trail lies was once a bustling coal mining area which can clearly be determined by the 100 foot piles of shale, and the abundance of anthracite lying about the property. there are also numerous concrete structures further displaying evidence of years gone by. the trail system is split into various loops ranging from 2 miles up to 8 miles, and a bit longer if you wander onto the various emergency roads throughout the area. the loop trail is also home to three climbing areas that are known regionally for there mix of easy to challenging climbs. these areas are: the Library, Main wall, and Paradise. Main wall can be accessed from a small pulloff on lee road, and the library and paradise can be reached by taking a 10 minute hike from the main entrance of the trail. if your into geocaching, there are dozens of caches waiting to be found here, take a look at all the caches by clicking here. as you can see there is lots of available adventure waiting to be had here, and i encourage you to 11 of 15 1/6/10 2:03 PM

12 check it out sometime, and as alway if your looking for some info or someone to adventure with, shoot an to Cooridnates to Parking lot: lat= , lon= Directions Stats for my last trip: Total Time: 5:25:26 Moving Time: 3:27:02 Distance: Miles Average speed: 3.01 mph Min Elevation: 519 Ft Max Elevation: 1290 Ft All Data recorded using My Tracks For Android. «Previous Entries Patrick Gensel CampTheSummit You might be a backpacker if you find random unopened ramen meals under the back seat of your truck. Mmm time for lunch. 5 hours not yet, but im looking at them and i like what i see :) 17 hours ago Join the conversation Archives 12 of 15 1/6/10 2:03 PM

13 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 Recent Posts Mount Washington Summit Attempt January 23rd GearHead: Osprey Talon 44 Pack Gear: Black Diamond Raven Ice Axe Farewell 2009, Welcome What are your adventure goals? Upcoming event: New Years Hike with National Audubon Society CTS Recommends Alaska HDTV Alpine Institute Blog Amtrekker Appalachian Trail Conservancy Calipidder backpacking Climbing Narcissist Eastern Mountain Sports Jetboil Pacific Crest Trail Association Rock climber girl SuperTopo The Access Fund The Gear Junkie The Savvy Grouse 13 of 15 1/6/10 2:03 PM

14 Recent Posts Meta GearHead: Osprey Talon 44 Pack Gear: Black Diamond Raven Ice Axe Farewell 2009, Welcome What are your adventure goals? Upcoming event: New Years Hike with National Audubon Society Looking for Contributors for weekly audio podcast Winter Backpacking essentials. Log in Valid XHTML 14 of 15 1/6/10 2:03 PM

15 XFN E-RSS C-RSS About CampTheSummit Welcome to CampTheSummit, Your source for adventure content ranging from rock climbing to scuba diving to exploration. if there is anything you would like to see covered, feel free to Powered by WordPress Design by Linking Info In Association with SEO Service Company and Website Promotion Blog 15 of 15 1/6/10 2:03 PM