As a solo traveler with an extremely favorable exchange rate, I took great advantage of being able to eat whatever the heck I wanted in the two and a half days I was in Wanaka. Two days of hard climbing, canyoneering, and one full day of sitting on a bus made for a very, very, very hungry girl. I ate my way through the best restaurants in Wanaka to get you this list. You’re welcome.
6 AM, my alarm cut through the quiet of the night. I groggily woke up, trying not to rustle my friend beside me in the car. My night was pretty restless, filled with tossing and turning, too excited to climb to get any real sleep. This was going to be the day. I was finally going to climb Corrugation Corner.
When you’re outside putting in thousands of miles on your feet and taking customers to epic destinations, you need gear that works flawlessly. Our resident outdoor guide and newest contributor to Little Grunts, AJ Baker, put together a cheat sheet on what to get your outdoor guide for the holidays.
Out in the wilderness with no access to laundry? ExOfficio’s underwear is the answer to your prayers. Lightweight and quick drying, every guide gets a good few days use before maybe it’s time for a washing. The best part? Toss these in a bit of water and a bit of soap, give it a good scrubbing and they’re just as good as new.
The Patagonia Capilene 3 zipneck is arguably the most versatile layer for this outdoor guide. From hot summer days of guiding in the Southwest to four seasons in Michigan, this keeps you warm and protected. Bonus: the zipper lets you open up and ventilate when it’s getting a little too warm.
The Black Diamond High Ball pants aren’t just for climbing. From the crag to lounging around to city streets, these are versatile without looking like you’re about to hike to work.
‘Tis the season for new Chacos. Wait, it’s always Chaco season. Who wants to hike in boots when Chacos can do it all? The best part is winter means all the Chaco sandals are on sale.
Every guide should know his stars. What better way to woo guests than to tell them wild tales about the night sky? National Geographic’s Backyard Guide to the Night Sky and a green laser pointer are hands down a winner. Just make sure the laser pointer is at least 50 Megawatts so you can point it all the way to the stars.
Get the book for $17 from Amazon.
You can’t go wrong with merino wool socks, ever.
REI has just about every brand imaginable along with their own private label line, so you’ve got merino socks for every budget.
Hiking and camping at Buena Vista Lake is a beautiful way to see the south side of Yosemite… the name says it all. With beautiful 360 degree views from Buena Vista Peak you get to look at the backside of Half Dome, up to Clouds Rest and all the domes and peaks in-between.
Oh man, I’ve been way too busy climbing and not blogging enough. Is it okay if I still talk about chasing fall color even though fall color is fading faster than fast? After oogling at glaciers and Mt. Baker the day before, I headed deeper into the North Cascades with my good friend, Jessica, for a romp on the Heather-Maple Pass trail.
I always make it a point to see her when in Seattle. She’s a great blogger friend who kind of just gets me, and I’ve hiked with her previously on the Mountain Loop Highway and at Ebey’s Landing. This time she brought along one of her puppies! Yep, she really did hike Heather-Maple Pass with her wiener.