CB Sports-High Tech Jacket and Gear Review

I'm working at one of the most beautiful places in Alaska. I've got my free season pass all lined up to hit the slopes. End of this month there's a gear swap. Then in November, employees are given a deep discount on new gear for the winter season.

 

Its been raining nearly two months now. My CB Sport's jacket is really proving worth the money. According to the attached card, it said it was breathable, waterproof and all weather.

 

 

The one thing I did regret was buying white. I haven't washed it yet, but it will be needing it soon. I've worn this jacket over my chef's coat, on hikes in the back country, and to town.

Its comfortable and in spite of all the rain, I've never been soaked through and it has not become clammy inside, like many rain jackets.

The two side zippered pockets have decent closures, not flimsy and destined for breakage. The inside breast pocket has a Velcro closure, which I love. It safeguards the wallet or glasses.

This jacket was made in China, often the case in America. The entire thing is made with 100% polyester. Machine wash gentle cycle, in cold water. I'll be trying that soon.

The hood is fitted and has snap closures. Its a good fit, neither too snug or too loose. There are no draw cords to cinch it tight. Sometimes I wear a long wool scarf if its really windy and blowing rain.

 

 

According to the card attached to the jacket when I bought it, it is an "advance performance system, high tech clothing for the ultimate challenge."

 

So far, I love it. The white is visible which should prove useful during the long dark winter here in Alaska. Plus, it should look awesome on the slopes!

 

 

Now in Paperback , Beyond the Journey

Now you can get
Ultralighters-True-Trail-Stories-Beyond the Journey  in paperback.

 

 

 

It has been edited and reformatted both for the Kindle or Nook digital editions while making the paperback available.

I hope you like it. Please share your thoughts or a review on this book. You can write one here in the comment section, or leave your review at amazon.com. I would really appreciate it.

Thanks for all the kind words and support I've received from the hiking-backpacking and nature loving community over the years. It means a lot to me.

Colorado Fatalities-Rock Slides

While working on my second book, an Ultralighter's True Trail Stories, Beyond the Journey, I started proofing the section about the Colorado Trail. All this is in preparation for Create Space, a print on demand publication service. I took a break, went to make coffee and checked my e-mail. Someone had sent me the link for this story about hikers being killed just south west of Denver while hiking in the Pike and San Isabel National Forest.


http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57605367/rock-slide-kills-five-hikers-in-colorado/

Colorado is famous for mountains and rugged trails. Seems everyone loves to get out and enjoy those gorgeous views near 14,000 feet, whether by bike, by horseback, in a car or motor cycle, or on foot.

I love that state. If you ever get a chance to hike in Colorado, do it.
Our hearts go out to the families and friends of the deceased. Without warning, the rock slide occurred right before noon, launching 100 tons of boulders down the mountain.
There's really no way to predict or avoid such a rare momentous natural disaster. Thankfully, there was ready help for the injured.

May all your trails be safe.

Sharing the Best-My Go-To Cookbook

 

My favorite go-to cookbook is finally available in Print. Just follow the link below to order yours.

 

Included in this updated version are more stories, recipes and strategies for cooking for a crowd. Bonus material has been added from my man camp  experience up in Yellowstone National Park.

 

CreateSpace eStore: The Cookbook Project-Sharing the Best

This book would make a great gift too for Christmas. Each page has a  little extra space below for adding notes and your own recipes. This is a family friendly cookbook with recipes for those on a budget, too.

Video of Trails In Alyeska, Alaska

Hiking up behind the Resort is breathtakingly beautiful. There are wild creatures. I've encountered a black bear and porcupine. Both times I was hiking with a friend who likes to hunt treasures.




Now that I have my mountain bike on location, I have several choices for recreation: hiking, biking, and soon, skiing. Stay tuned. Rain gear is paramount, still, to enjoying Alaska.

My Journey Available In Print

I've finally arranged for My Journey to Freedom and Ultralight Backpacking to be available, on demand, at CreateSpace.

https://www.createspace.com/4426053

The cover is a little different because of their formatting and help, but the interior is the same, except for a little improved editing.

I'm working now on An Ultralighter's True Trail Stories-beyond the Journey. I hope to have it available, for the first time ever, in paperback, as well. It is the second book in the Journey Series. You can still buy it for Kindle or Nook e-readers through Amazon.com or Barnes and Nobles. Just follow the links at the right side bar.

As I prepare my books for print, I'm editing out misspellings that somehow escaped me the first time around. At the same time, I'm adding more stories and details to the work. Please write a review if you have a few minutes. My goal is to help inspire people to enjoy life, take some risks, and never give up.

I've just returned from a road trip, beginning in Idaho, going through Canada and back to my job here in Alaska. The first photos can be found at http://thefemalesurvivalist.blogspot.com

I'll be detailing the actual route here, tomorrow. Thanks to all my readers for their support and encouragement.

The Journey Series-A New Look

 

Coming soon via Create Space: a print on demand option for e-books.

 

 

 

I wrote My Journey to Freedom and Ultralight Backpacking in 2003. You can still find a few of the first printing original paperback books, although its not easy.

Two years ago, I made my book available for Kindle or Nook Readers, through Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble in e-format.

You can also read this book on you laptop by downloading the free PC application which enables you to enjoy any e-book.

 

Within a month, I hope to have My Journey to Freedom and the second book in the Journey Series An Ultralighter's True Trail Stories-beyond the Journey available in paperback at Amazon.com.

 

The cookbook I wrote for camping and backpacking adventurers entitled Everything Except Corn Pasta  took its name as a tongue- in- cheek hats off to Ray Jardine. He is renown for his early years of promoting the consumption of corn pasta. If you've ever eaten corn pasta, you know how difficult it is to find in small stores while resupplying on the trail, or how difficult it is to cook it properly over a tiny backpacking stove.

 

In my second book, An Ultralighter's True Trail Stories- beyond the Journey, I talk about many more trails, their key characteristics, some stranger characters and some unusual adventures. By sharing these stories, I hope to warn, entertain and inspire others to leave their comfort zones behind and head out to face the elements.

 

A third book which I've just begun will be added to this string of books in the Journey Series.

 

 In Journeys and Random Free Spirits, I'll tell what really happened up at the Hold in Wyoming, a strange and dangerous bunker-survivalist encounter that lasted a week. I'll tell why I escaped and hid, sort of incognito, way up high, camping alone in Grizzly country, then bushwhacking in the Snowy Range, later meeting strangers for stranger adventures near Steamboat Springs.

 

 

Of course, the crazy hike along the Ennis Bypass should be included, with its long rainy 41 mile rush to shelter, an honorable mention going to the cowboy who invited me to dry out at his home. I declined and he said he understood when I said I was on a mission.

 

Included will be a stories of other encounters, hiking in the Monte Bell Range near Aspen, Colorado, a struggle for identity, taking on the role of the all seeing Black Feather for a week in Idaho,  then at last moving to Alaska with a job cooking for a ski resort.

 

The Journey is a series of outdoor and backpacking adventures, a maze of sorts, a strange time of discovery and decisions. I hope to do the theme justice.

 

 

Photos Galore of Girdwood and North Face Trail Report

 

The bridge over Glacier Creek gives you a nice view of glacier melt water, glacier mountains and local artwork. Colorful and spontaneous renditions of ocean creatures...from Alaska!

Footprints show I'm not the only one to get off the beaten path and view the mountains from down below.

 

The tram takes one to the top, above Alyeska Resort where one can eat at Seven Glaciers, use the bathroom, get some water. All the water used and served up here comes up the tram in a huge container. If you hike up the mountain, you can ride the tram down.

 

Its over 2,000 foot ascent in 2.2 miles along the North Face Trail. It starts out easy enough, following a gravel roadbed, which turns into a gravel footpath, sometimes threading through marshy land via board walk. Once you've committed yourself to the climb, it gets rough.

 

Its lush and steep, often wet, then slick as a greased hog. I used my new grip-lock hiking poles both ways to muscle my way to the top, enjoy the view, then brace my way down. Lots of people were hiking it up, few coming back down.

 

They say there's a completion held on who can run up this the fastest. So far, 22.5 minutes is the record. It took me an hour and a half to climb it, enjoying the views and taking photos along the way.

Trekking Poles-Initial Gear Report

 

My old poles were shot: the tips worn down to nothing, wrist straps gnarly, adjustment gaskets with near zero performance. Before heading to Alaska, I bought a set of poles from Cabela's: this written on the label: mountain series, 4 season, with the flicklock mechanism to secure proper adjustment. I checked....yes, there is a screw to tighten this mechanism if/when it should ever slip. As long distance hikers all know...nothing stays tight forever. 

 

I chose these Black Diamond brand poles because they were light yet solid. The snow baskets came with, however, I won't put them on until we get snow on the trails. 

My first test was on the Winner Creek Trail. It had board walks and wide paths, some mud made worse by days of rain. I did a short video of this hike in the rain. The camera is not water proof and so the footage is not idea. You can see this video at my youtube channel, or at
http://thefemalesurvivalist.blogspot.com.

 

Blueberries are nearing the end of the season. You can still find some if you get off the beaten path. I crossed a wide Iditarod bridge and found plenty.

 

However, the farther down this narrow trail I went, the more overgrown it became. Knowing black bear and grizzly frequent this area, I finally turned around.

 

My bear spray is clipped via a carabiner to my belt loop. But, just playing it safe instead of sorry, I headed home.

 

The trekking poles did wonderfully, never loosing tension, feeling very good in the hand.

Alaskan Hiker

 

Saw this cartoon posted on Facebook. Seemed appropriate as I head to my new home, here in Alaska. I did manage to bring my ultralight backpacking equipment, my backcountry skis, poles and boots, and a ton of good layers. I'll continue to test gear, but under different circumstances....Alaska is know for its wet, cold, long dark, weather. Its also known as the most beautiful place on earth. YMMV

 

 

I don't really know much about Alaska. Other than Into the Wild, the story of Chris McCandless fatal obsession with the wilderness here, and the Iditarod, the snowy race done on sleds with dogs, I'm a total newbie. I found this map online. It shows the road to my new location. 

 

My Geo is back in Idaho. I feel some separation anxiety, but its not insurmountable. A pick up truck with cap-camper on back is on my wish list.

 

Stay tuned to this blog, as well as the sister-blog

http://thefemalesurvivalist.blogspot.com