I was surfing around the Patagonia website yesterday and noticed they have put up their new fall stuff, including some cool new things that climbers might be interested in.

The Nano Puff Pullover looks like a lightweight synthetic insulation perfect for a day at the crag. The Retro Grade pants are a cotton-spandex blend that look like they’ll be good and durable for some days in the Creek. And for those looking to add a little style, they’ve got the reversible Phone Home Jacket.

If any of this catches your eye, be sure to get it fast. I love Patagonia’s stuff, but my biggest gripe is that it sells out way too quickly. I hate not being able to order a winter jacket in January, or some fall pants in October. I understand it’s a smart business move, and they don’t end up with much overstock, but it’s mildly frustrating as a consumer.

Well, it sure took it’s sweet time this year, but it appears that summer has finally come to Colorado. After the rainiest late spring/early summer I can remember, the days are now warm and dry (for the most part) and it’s a great time to be out in the mountains. Sunday was one of those classic climbing days, the kind you wished never ended. We climbed ’till we thought we were done, and then climbed some more. Afterwards, we sat on the lawn at Dos Gringos, eating a burrito and listening to some great music from the impromtu jam session that happens every Sunday night. Sitting in the warm evening, looking around at the mountains as the music floated through the air, I couldn’t help but think how beautiufl it all was, and how sad that it passes so quickly in the mountains. Get out and enjoy it while you can!

CiloGear is a pack company based in Portland, Oregon that focuses on making high end packs for alpinists, and anyone else who appreciates a good sturdy and versatile rig. I got my hands on one to test out for a month, and I was thoroughly impressed. In fact, I’d probably have to say it’s the nicest carrying pack I’ve ever used.

I tried out the 45L WorkSack, which is designed as a workhorse pack for people going fast and light in the mountains. Apparently it has appeared frequently in Alpinist Magazine, and numerous Patagonia catalog shots. I, of course, prefer my recreation to be, well, a little more recreational, so I simply used it for cragging and route development. I did test it with a bunch of heavy stuff, including a drill, bolts and ropes, and it carried like a dream. The internal frame was light yet sturdy and I was impressed with how well it handled the load every time I went out with all my gear.

I like packs that let me fit everything inside, I don’t like walking around with stuff strapped to the outside or swinging around. The 45L seemed to be a good size for this, and if you extend the collar, you can actually get 75L of space out of it! I generally use a Metolius Quarter Dome as my cragging pack, since I can just throw everything in and it’s good to go, but I found myself reaching for this pack more and more, as it just carried so darn well. Read the rest of this entry »

Some good stuff out there this week.

Will Gadd defines the word tragedy as it relates to climbing accidents, and I couldn’t agree more.

Pimpin & Cimpin has yet another brilliant post about what your harness says about you.

And the Cremnomaniac has some helpful trad climbing tips.

Have a good weekend everybody.

Skinny ropes have been popular for quite some time now, but I’ve generally stayed away. For one, they don’t work with well Gri Gri’s, no matter what all you people who are using them tell yourselves. I tend to use 10 mm cords for that reason, and because at 175 lbs, I put some weight on the rope when I fall.  On top of that, they just never seemed all that versatile. Sure, it’s great to have a skinny redpoint cord, but if I’m gonna drop some $$ on a rope, I want to be able to use it as much as I need.

So it was with some hesitation that I started using the Petzl Fuse 9.4mm Rope. Running the thin strands through my hands as I stacked it into a rope bag for the first time, I thought, wow, this is pretty skinny! I’ve now had it out on sport and trad climbs, and I have to say, I’m hooked. For starters, this thing is light, at least compared to the 10 mil cord I was using. The weight savings is really noticeable on long pitches, like at the top of a 140′ route I did at the City of Rocks last week, when I easily pulled up rope to make the last clip. Plus this thing handles like a dream. It feeds easy, clips easy, it pretty much makes your life better, period.

Read the rest of this entry »