I love finding ways to organize myself in the backcountry.  The Kuiu Dry Zip Bag has become a regular partner of mine in doing so and I'd highly suggest picking up some of your own.  Find out why by reading this post!

While hiking over 30 miles in the fog isn't what most people call ideal fun, I've learned to love my experience on the Loowit Trail and wouldn't trade it for the world.

Reviewing a backpack is a daunting task because of how complicated it can be.  There are as many packs out there as there are body types and each one serves its own specific purpose.  Some are built for ultra light hiking while others for heavy load hauling.  Some are meant for a lifetime of abuse while others will last but a few years.  If you ask my close friends, they'd tell you that I have a minor obsession with backpacks of any kind and what my obsession has taught be over the years is that unlike the Lord of the Rings, there is not one backpack to rule them all.  With that in mind, though daunting as it may be, I’m so pleased with my Exo Mountain Gear 3500 that I can't help but tell of how great it is.

The wise words of an old elk hunter, an inopportune misfire, and last day success, sum up my 2014 hunting season.  I'd learn more about myself in one season than I could have ever anticipated.

Looking back on my 2015 experiences, I can't help but think of how many lessons I came away with.  Narrowing them down to 5 is going to be tough, but I'll do my best.  

I accepted for a number of years that come hunting season, I was going to have to deal with being wet and cold because there was nothing out there that was durable enough to stand up to the Pacific Northwest rain showers.  All that changed when I found the Kuiu Yukon rain gear.  Never again will I be turned away from hunting because of a downpour.

When things don't go as planned, remaining positive for the benefit of yourself and others around you is more powerful than you think.  

Always with me, always reliable, and quick to boil.  My MSR Reactor will always be in my pack and for good reason.  It's built tough, can boil snow, and has on many occasions, been passed around the camp boiling water for meals and hot coffee.  Simply put, I love this thing.

The Sierra Designs Lightning 2 FL was the first tent to change my mind about how a tent should function.  Every time I use it, I'm always happy that I bought it and just can't think of a better design.  Sierra Designs did it right!