Gear Review: REI Trekker 1.75 Pad

If you've ever slept on the ground, you know the need for a good sleeping pad. The issues are cost, size, weight and comfort. There are plenty of sleeping pads on the market -- with varying costs, brands and thickness.

I did a fair amount of research on sleep pads so I could find one that was cost-effective, but offered plenty of comfort and was the right size for solo backcountry expeditions.

I finally settled on REI's Trekker 1.75 self-inflating pad. While it's certainly not the thickest pad available, it offered the right balance of what I was looking for at a reasonable cost of $64.50. The regular size is 72 in. by 20 in. I am 6 feet tall and the length was adequate. The pad's width is fine for me, but larger campers may find it a bit limiting.

It doesn't take longer than a few minutes to self inflate and an extra breath of air will give it the support you need. Packing the pad is very simple and can be done pretty quickly. It's packed dimensions are 4.75 in. by 21.25 in. and it weighs about  40 ounces.

REI includes a protective bag and velcro straps so you can really tighten it down before you put it on your pack.

I've spent a few nights on this pad in the desert and I have no complaints. For its size, price and weight, it's certainly a good deal and helps you get a good night of rest.

Gear Review: Kelty Salida 2 Tent

As I was preparing for my first backcountry camping expedition, I thoroughly researched my options for compact and lightweight tents. There are plenty of available tents and opinions on the web, but after reading Backpacker magazine's gear issue, I decided to go with Kelty's Salida 2. The tent was rated as an Editor's Choice for 2011 and had the specs I was looking for.

Backcountry camping in Joshua Tree National Park.

It's listed as a two-person tent, but I think it's much better as a large one-person tent, especially because it only has one entry/exit. This helps save on weight, but would be an issue for two people. It's rather light, with a minimum weight of 3 lb. 12 oz. and is only 22 in. by 7 in. when packed.

The three-season tent is made of lightweight, but strong material and includes many of the features you would expect in a much more expensive tent. This one lists for $159 -- and it's a steal.

After a few nights in the desert, I can say that I am extremely pleased with my purchase. The tent is well ventilated and stood up to some pretty strong winds. It's also very easy to set up and break down. As with all tents, I would spend the extra money on the footprint to help protect it.

Check out Backpacker Magazine's video review here.

Hawk's Canyon -- a hidden gem in Anza-Borrego State Park

Hawk's Canyon campground.

I just happened to find a wonderful camping spot in Anza-Borrego State Park in Southern California called Hawk's Canyon. I came across a reference to it when looking for hikes on Trails.com and found a little information about it on the web (incl. directions).

The article is right -- this is one of the best remote desert camping spots I've seen. Since I was arriving on a Friday evening, I wasn't sure how crowded it was going to be -- and much to my surprise, only a few other campers were in the area. The area offers wonderful and somewhat secluded camping spots, but no facilities and only a few fire rings. It also offers a wonderful amount of wildlife and wildflowers (in the right season, of course).

I set up my tent in between two large boulders and the canyon wall. Little did I know that two great horned owls made their home only about 10 feet away. It made for a loud, but interesting evening. I also saw a number of falcons and hummingbirds. No bighorn sheep, though. Maybe next time.

Clear, cool evening in Anza.

There are a lot of hiking trails accessible from the campsite itself and if you have a good compass or GPS, it's easy enough to go off trail and hike some of the hills and canyons in the area.

The sites got a little more crowded later in the evening -- most of the campers were people wanting to go off-roading on the nearby trails and on the Octillo Wells Recreation Area. There are hundreds of miles of off-road trails in this area -- I will be back to explore.

Had a great night. Met some fellow campers from the Bay Area who were surprised I had ever heard of the site. We traded stories around their campfire and enjoyed the very clear night sky. If you have a chance to visit Anza-Borrego -- this is the place to stay.

Things to know:

• You will likely want a high clearance 4X4 to drive to the campsite and on nearby trails
• There are no facilities anywhere nearby
• Little or no cell phone coverage
• You can pull your car right up to your camping spots
• Arrive early for the best spots
• Spring/fall are the best seasons to visit and expect to see wildflowers in March.
• Follow the directions very closely -- it's very easy to miss the turn off the highway

Preparing for Solo Camping

I've got an upcoming trip to Joshua Tree National Park later this month and have decided to go solo camping in the backcountry. While I have done a lot of hiking, this is my first try at solo camping in the wilderness and I am currently assembling the gear I'll need. I don't want to spend a lot of $$$, but I am certainly concerned about quality and weight.

Here's a list of the gear I'm buying:

Tent: Kelty Salida 2
Backpack: REI Flash 65
Sleeping bag: REI Halo +40
Pad: REI Trekker 1.75 Self-Inflating Pad
Stove: MSR SuperFly Stove
Cookset: Snow Peak Hybrid Trail Cookset

More to come...

Proper planning and extra provisions are necessary

Saw a story this morning about a hiker who was rescued in California after getting lost while hiking the Santa Rosa mountains. For those of us who have done a lot of wilderness hiking, we know this can happen pretty easily -- especially on poorly maintained trails.

In this case, the solo hiker had prepared for something just like this and brought enough extra food, water and supplies to allow for an unplanned overnight stay. That being said, it's hard to imagine how he got himself two miles away from the trail and facing 200 foot cliffs.

As I have always said, it is especially crucial for solo hikers to have a GPS, compass or maps to help them plot their location and route and should really consider the SPOT GPS locator so they can signal for help if they do become lost of injured.

This hiker was lucky he was spotted by search planes, but he could have planned a little better to ensure that he never got into the situation to begin with.

Pine Mountain Trail: Wolf Den Loop

Cascade Waterfall -- an FDR favorite

Living near Columbus, GA doesn't offer a lot of hiking options, but the 23-mile Pine Mountain Trail in FDR State Park is certainly a good option when you are looking to get outside (about 30 minutes north).

It's even worth a day trip from Atlanta and can be coupled with a side trip to historic Warm Springs and FDR's Little White House.

My favorite hike is the 6.7 mile Wolf Den Loop which offers great views, varied terrain and three separate waterfalls. FDR apparently enjoyed the waterfalls, especially the one known as Cascade Waterfall. Not exactly sure how he got to it, though. 

You can choose to hike the entire 6.7 mile loop or just turn around after hitting all three waterfalls (about 4 miles total). The hike isn't terribly strenuous, but it is a nice way to get out, get a little muddy and clear your mind. The trail is safe for leashed dogs as well.

On the weekends, expect to share the trail with runners, families and other pets. Get there early for the most solitude. See the trip report for directions and more details.

Quick hike in Atlanta: Kennesaw

Kennesaw Mountain.

View from the summit.

I'm in Atlanta for business regularly and am often looking for a quick hike that I can make either before or after work. Stumbled upon Kennesaw Mountain when driving through Marietta and have since been back a few times to make the 5.4 mile round trip hike up and down Big and Little Kennesaw mountains.

It's a bit of burner since the uphill climb is relatively steep and takes place within the first mile or so. You get rewarded with great views of Atlanta and plenty of Civil War history. In fact, the mountains are part of a large national battlefield which was the site of a famous battle. During the hike, you'll pass cannons, rifle pits and artillery embankments. Some wildlife, including deer and hawks are often seen.

Once you climb both mountains, you'll make a slow descent back down and through the park as you loop back to the parking area and visitor center. See the following trip report for directions and specifics. The battlefield offers a total of 17 miles of trails -- many of which are good for trail running. Definitely worth checking out if you are in the area and want to get some exercise outdoors.