Chaco Z/Cloud X2

Chacos are the king of the rafting and guide world. Outdoorists wear their sandal lines like a badge of honor. Rugged enough for the trails, but chic enough to rock…

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Oxygen Plus Skinni Natural

Oxygen Plus O+ Skinni Natural Review

I won’t lie. I’m a total flatlander. I live at sea level, and I completely struggle at altitude. Shortness of breath, splitting headaches, all that jazz, all of it happens to me once I get close to 8000 feet. Prior to Outdoor Retailer, a few friends and I headed out in the Uintas for some pre-show backpacking and gear testing fun. Our itinerary involved scuttling around 10,000 feet every day, so Oxygen Plus was kind enough to send along some Skinni Natural bottles.

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Climbing the Matterhorn

Climbing the Matterhorn, Sierra Nevada, Sawtooth Range, July 2016

I was too slow. I was too fat. Maybe my pack was too heavy. I shouldn’t have gone to the gym yesterday. Did I really need to bring my DSLR and tripod? Why couldn’t I keep up? What if he didn’t want to ever go on climbing adventures with me again? My trekking pole got stuck in a crevice. I yanked it out and subsequently knocked the handle into my eye. That was the final straw that broke the frustrated camel’s back. I tried to stop it, but one sniffle led to another. Then I was suddenly bawling on the last half mile section to our campsite for the night.

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