Big Agnes Stagecoach Duffel

About the Big Agnes Stagecoach Duffel

The Stagecoach is a waterproof, wheeled duffel for those needing to carry a good deal of gear.  The Stagecoach comes in three sizes, small (54 liters), medium (85 liters), and large (150 liters) ensuring there is a size for every need.  The features from the Big Agnes website are below:

• Durable, waterproof nylon with welded seams
• Heavy duty plastic, tractor-style wheels on medium and large sizes. Polyurethane inline skate wheels on small size
• Improved flip top lid opens fully
• Light gray interior so you can see your stuff
• Durable aluminum frame with extending lockable handle
• Two large interior zippered pockets
• Independent backpack strap system and external compression straps
• Water resistant, molded plastic zipper and soft rubber grab handles
• Size small meets most airline carry-on size regulations

First Impressions of the Big Agnes Stagecoach Duffel

When the Big Agnes Stagecoach duffel I ordered arrived the other day I thought for a few moment maybe it was too big.  With the ability to hold 150 liters the large duffel can swallow enough gear for even the most ambitious expeditions.  It’s going to be a challenge to fill.  I am a big fan of the backpack straps that are on the Stagecoach although I won’t be trying the shoulder it fully loaded.  The quality seems to be top notch and don’t anticipate any problems with the construction or materials.  I would have liked to see either a waterproof zipper or a flap to cover the zipper (or both) for the days where your Stagecoach sits in the elements for hours.  The one other feature I would have liked is an internal frame to give more shape to the duffel similar to that of the North Face Rolling Thunder.

Up Next for the Big Agnes Stagecoach Duffel

The Stagecoach is currently being packed for a trip to Costa Rica in a couple weeks.  A few days after my return from Costa Rica I’ll be off to Peru.  In each case we’ll be abusing the Stagecoach to see how it holds up and meets our needs.  We will of course keep you informed.

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Brian has been instrumental in the development of Red Rock Canyon Open space in Colorado Springs. A relatively new climbing and recreation area that offers outdoor enthusiasts a great place to climb, hike and get away from the tourists.  Brian has also played a major role in the Anchor Replacement Initiative at Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs.  Brian, along with other local climbers spent countless hours replacing old and unsafe anchors so that everyone can have a safe, enjoyable climbing experience.

These are just a few examples of the work that Brian has performed for the climbing community and the community in general.  Brian also owns Front Range Climbing Company, teaching and introducing new people to the sport of climbing.  On a personal note, Brian is a great friend and would always be willing to drop everything to help a friend in need.

Now it’s our turn.  Brian has been diagnosed with a large brain tumor and is having surgery to remove it.  It’s time to show our support for someone who has give so selflessly to the climbing and outdoor community.  Brian is without health insurance and, as you can imagine, the cost of the surgery is quite high.  To help Brian, a climbing competition is being held at the Sport Climbing Center in Colorado Springs on April 3, 2010.  During the competition there will be raffles, prizes and a silent auction.  If you are interested, come join us.  If you can donate items for prizes/raffle/auction email us and if you can donate cash an account at Chase Bank has been established under the name “Donation Fund for Brian Shelton”.  Updates to follow.

For many years my roommates and I had passes to Ski Cooper, near Leadville, Colorado. Cooper is one of the smallest ski areas in Colorado, but it’s extremely family friendly. The lifts are slower, the runs are shorter, and it’s generally a more relaxing atmosphere than larger resorts.

After we married, Angie and I decided to take advantage of the Liberty Pass offered by Vail resorts. This special pass for military members offers unlimited skiing at Keystone and Arapahoe Basin for less than half of a full price season pass. I had been to Keystone and other large resorts before, so I knew what to expect. That year we hit Keystone 5 or 6 times, including one multi-day trip when we stayed in Silverthorne. We also boarded a day or two up at A-Basin, which is a really great place but has become very crowded over the past few years. Overall though, we didn’t really care for Keystone as much as other resorts, and couldn’t handle the crowds up the road at A-Basin.

Last year we bit the bullet and bought the full price Colorado Pass which included Breckenridge, A-Basin, and Keystone. We only went to Breck since we’re not big fans of the other two any more. The pass is pretty pricey (I think we paid $450 each), but if you get enough days in it can be worth it. What we realized about halfway through the season is that we really don’t like crowds. Since we can usually only hit the slopes on weekends, and we like to sleep in a little, by the time we arrive on a Saturday morning, the entire resort is usually packed.

In addition to the lift lines and crowded slopes, we really don’t like being so far from our FJ Cruiser. We like to go back to the FJ at lunch time for a sandwich, some great tunes, and a little relaxation. That’s very difficult to do at a large resort. At Breck, that entails taking a gondola, and usually a bus to get to a large parking lot and finally back to the car. It’s really not worth it. What ends up happening is that we’re stuck eating an overpriced chicken sandwich at a VERY crowded mountainside venue. In addition to our passes, we were dropping another $60-70 every time we went (gas, parking, food, etc). Our snowboarding hobby got expensive very quickly.

That’s not to say that we didn’t enjoy ourselves. The snow is usually pretty good, and the runs are nice and long. For great terrain and lots of variety, Breckenridge is hard to beat. Also, on the rare occasion that we were able to hit the slopes during the week, the resort was generally pretty quiet. With the large crowds removed, some of the other drawbacks are easily overlooked. I highly recommend a larger resort like Breck for those coming to Colorado on vacation.

This year, since Angie isn’t able to board, I chose to grab a military pass at Monarch again. The smaller resort with far less people is much better for my tastes, especially on the weekend. I’ve been able to get to the slopes very early in the morning and get some great turns before any lift lines form. Looking forward, with the new addition to our family on the way, I think we’ll be sticking with either Monarch or Ski Cooper for the foreseeable future. I don’t like the thought of teaching our little one to ski/board on a crowded resort mountain.

What are your thoughts on large resorts versus smaller ski areas? Do you prefer the ultra fast lifts and multi-mountain terrain, or smaller areas that are more cost effective and convenient? We’d love to hear about your favorite small ski areas, next season is just around the corner and we’re looking for places to check out!

My fitness activities range from light days at the gym to hard core circuit courses. I usually prefer to get my cardio workouts on the trails in and around Colorado Springs, usually with a few pounds of gear strapped to my back. Unfortunately I don’t always have time to get out for cardio, so I have to rely on what the local fitness center has to offer. While stair climbers, elliptical machines, and stationary bikes all work fine for cardio, I know that the best workout in a short time is running. The problem is, I REALLY don’t like running.

I’ve had to run for time pretty regularly since I joined Civil Air Patrol over 20 years ago, and I’ve never liked it. When I first joined the Air Force, my run times were average at best, I’ve never been a fast runner. As I’ve aged, I’ve developed minor knee irritations that have required a brace on occasion, which has definitely slowed my run times. While I still meet the standards for the AF, I’ve really felt that I’ve been held back a little.

Last year a friend of mine posted on Facebook about a not-so-new running ‘shoe’ called the Vibram Five Fingers. The premise of the Five Fingers is to mimic running barefoot, since barefoot running is much more efficient and safe than even the best running shoe. The philosophy is that humans have been running for thousands of years, yet running shoes have only been around for a few decades. The Five Fingers is basically a glove for your foot; each toe has its own pocket to go in. This logic made a lot of sense to me, so I decided to try a pair out.

I called around to all the stores in Colorado Springs and only found one that sells the Five Fingers, our trusty locally owned Mountain Chalet. When I went down to try on a pair of Five Fingers, I was lucky enough to be helped by a salesperson that’s been a fan of them for years. She gave me a quick run down of the options and I decided that the KSO would be the best fit for me.

When I first pulled the size 41 KSO Five Fingers out and tried to put them on, I immediately realized there was a learning curve here. I’m not kidding when I say it took a good 10 minutes to get that first shoe on. Even though the Five Fingers uses a more precise sizing scheme, everyone’s foot is a little different. In fact, I’ve been told that some people may not be able to find a size that fits them well. The key to learning how to wear these shoes is figuring out how to ‘work’ your toes into the pockets. The second shoe only took 5 minutes, and now I can don the Five Fingers nearly as quickly as any other shoe.

Let’s talk about results. While I can’t guarantee that everyone will respond well to the Five Fingers, if my results are typical, most people will see fairly immediate benefits. There is, however, a re-training period of a couple of weeks to get used to running more efficiently. While the specifics are beyond the scope of this article (see below for some great resources), suffice it to say that when you learn to run without slamming your heel into the ground, you’re going to be much more efficient.

My run times (for the 1.5 mile fitness test that I’m required to take) have dropped by an average of 30 seconds over the last few months. Beyond that, while I’m still not a HUGE fan of running (you won’t see me in any marathons), with the Five Fingers I almost look forward to it. What’s more, I’ve not had to wear a knee brace at all since I’ve been using these shoes. Since running is more efficient and less jarring, the impact is less intense and my knees are very thankful for that. In fact, there have been times that my knees have hurt (from wearing dress shoes at work) when I began running, but stop hurting after running for a few minutes in the Five Fingers. I’m not sure if this is typical, but it sure has me sold! I’m considering buying a set of KSO Treks for light hiking this summer. I’ll let you know how that works out.

When it comes to indoor training for any type of adventure, good cardio is a must. I’ve become a huge fan of the Vibram Five Fingers and the barefoot running philosophy in general, it really makes sense. If you’re looking to increase your running efficiency and decrease the impact, head down to your local outfitter and try on a set of Five Fingers.

RESOURCES
Vibram Five Fingers KSO – Mens  (Buy)
A great resource for barefoot running.
A Harvard study on barefoot running
Great video showing the benefits of barefoot running.
A Barefoot running blog

New York City

Your first visit to New York City can be an intimidating experience.  NYC is big, fast, and unlike any other city in the world — a true urban adventure. Just like any other adventure, the key to making your trip an enjoyable and exciting experience is to arm yourself with some knowledge before you go, make a plan, and leave a little room in that plan for the unexpected. This beginners guide should help get you pointed in the right direction.

Geography and Layout

I often describe NYC as a country of it’s own, complete with states (the boroughs), and towns (neighborhoods).  New York City is composed of five boroughs.  Brooklyn, The Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island. Although each borough has great things to see, you’re likely to spend most of your time in Manhattan (referred to as “the city” by locals).  Manhattan is broken into many neighborhoods: the Upper West Side, Lower East Side, Murray Hill, and the Financial District to name a few.  Don’t be overly concerned about those, just know they exist.

The streets in Manhattan are laid out in a grid pattern.  Avenues run North-South and streets run East-West (see map below) with higher numbered streets to the North (uptown) and higher numbered avenues to the West.  This can make it quite simple to figure out which way to walk once you understand the pattern.  That said, below 14th St, things start to get to get a bit more confusing, and the whole of lower Manhattan is a jumble of named streets and tiny blocks. A map is key, and you may find yourself walking a block or two out of the way to figure out exactly where you are.

There are also several NYC map applications for the iPhone that you may find helpful. Isn’t technology wonderful?

Getting There

Although it is possible drive into New York, it’s not recommended.  Bridge and tunnel tolls are deliberately high to discourage people from adding to the traffic congestion in Manhattan, street  parking is extremely limited, and parking garages can be quite expensive. Navigating the city via the extensive network of buses and subway trains and the occasional taxi is not only much cheaper but also is often much quicker. So, it’s probably not surprising that we recommend getting to the city by plane or by train.

Airplane

There are three major international airports that service New York City: Newark, La Guardia, and John F. Kennedy.  Newark is located in Newark, New Jersey whereas La Guardia and JFK are located in Queens (a borough of New York City).  These airports are major hubs for many popular airlines, and JFK is a popular point of entry for many international flights. So, flights are easy to find and deals can be had if you’re willing to spend some time shopping around.  When shopping for flights most websites will allow you to use “NYC” as the destination which will generally search all three airports. Be careful however as searching for a round-trip ticket using this method will sometimes generate results that have you arriving into one airport and departing from a different one.

Transportation to and from each airport requires the use of trains or a taxi.  The information below should get you started.

If you’re coming in by train

• From Newark you will need to ride the AirTrain to “Newark Liberty International Airport” stop where you can transfer to an NJ Transit train bound for Penn Station in Manhattan.  Be aware there is also a Penn Station in Newark and you may need to change trains there.  Train tickets are purchased at NJ Transit ticket machines and normally include the AirTrain and NJ Transit fares.
• From La Guardia you will need to take a bus.  The M60 bus will take you to 125th Street in Manhattan where you can get on a number of subways.
• From JFK you can take the AirTrain.  The AirTrain connects with the New York City Subway “A”, “E”, “J”, and “Z” lines.  The AirTrain connects with the “A” at the Howard Beach station.  In order to get to the airport using this method you must be on a “Far Rockaway” train, not “Lefferts Boulevard”.  Connection with the “E”, “J”, and “Z” lines is at the Sutphin Boulevard station.  You can also connect to the Long Island Rail Road to Penn Station.

Of course cabs are also an option from all airports.  Although the price can be high for a cab it will save you considerable time and headache, particularly if you have much baggage or people as there is no additional fee for additional passengers.  Avoid drivers inside the terminals and in Newark negotiate your fare beforehand as the taxi operators are not as regulated as in New York.  Currently yellow cabs charge a flat $45 from JFK to any point in Manhattan.  While in the taxi stand line consider asking others where they are headed.  It’s a great way to reduce the cost of the cab and make new friends.

Rail

Amtrak serves New York Penn Station, located in the Midtown Manhattan.

Driving

Although not recommended, driving is an option.  I-95, I-80, and I-78 all come into the city via the Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel, or the George Washington Bridge.  Tolls can run upwards of $8 for the river crossing alone and traffic can be devilish.

Where to Stay

When looking for a hotel be cautious, some aren’t what they seem.  Consult a credible source before booking your accommodations.  Staying with someone you know in the area is always a great bet or for those more daring couch surfing is always an option.  If you want to have a great experience and don’t mind a little money for it check out the Kimpton Hotels, you can even bring your four-legged traveling companion.  In addition there is a free wine hour every evening.  If you are looking to go on the cheap, NYC also has numerous hostels to choose from.  Outside that, there are literally thousands of hotels to meet most people’s taste and budget.

New York Skyline

Getting Around

New York City is served by a great mass transit system consisting of 660 miles of subway track and 208 bus routes that serve some 7.6 Million people daily.  Most subway lines and bus routes run 24/7 with reduced service during late night, holidays, and weekends.  A free subway map can be picked up at a manned ticket booth is any subway station.  Because the subway can be a little intimidating the first time you ride here are a few tips for your trip:

• Know the difference between local and express.  Express trains don’t make all stops.
• Read the signs.  When transferring trains signs will point you in the right direction.
• When ascending or descending stairs or an escalator, stay to the right.
• Be ready to exit.  During rush hour the trains can be very full.  Don’t decide at the last moment you need to get off.
• Know the stop before and after the one you want.  This will help you prepare and also serves as a backstop if you happen to miss your stop.
• When getting on a train, do not stand in front of the doors.  Stand to the side and let people off before you board.  Trust me it’s quicker.  Also, when exiting don’t stop and look for signs/maps until you are well clear.  This just slows down the people who know where they are going.
• Knowing the layout of Manhattan streets and avenues can aide your subway exit.  Many exits are marked with the intersection and the side of the street it will come up on.  Not only will this aid you in using the right exit but you won’t have to ask for directions.
• If you are not sure of something, ask.  New Yorkers have a reputation for being rude but will generally help if simply asked.

NYC is also known for yellow cabs.  There are more than 13,000 yellow cabs in the city and your chances of getting one on a cold rainy night are slim to nil.  However, most other times it’s not a big problem.  Yellow cabs are well regulated and rides will always be metered.  Less than $10 will get you a few miles and there is no charge for additional passengers.  Again, a few tips:

• Be clear on where you want to go.  The drivers may not know the name of the restaurant so give an intersection or street with cross streets. For example, if you’re headed to Katz’s Delicatessen for some pastrami on rye and a glimpse of the table from that famous scene in ‘When Harry met Sally’ you can ask your cab driver to drop you at Houston (pronounced HOW-stun, not like that city in Texas) and Ludlow.
• Available cabs will have the number on the top of the cab illuminated.  If it is extinguished it is occupied and if the outer lights are on the driver is off duty. Check out this post on Abroad’r View for more on cab tips and etiquette.
• Be ready with payment.  All yellow cabs now accept credit cards, but be ready with cash just in case.

Beyond that NYC is a great walking city, so wear comfortable shoes!! If you’re armed with a decent map and willing take to the sidewalk you’ll be rewarded with the discovery of smaller ‘local’ establishments that are off the beaten tourist path.

What to See

Food

New York is known to have some of the best restaurants on the planet.  There are plenty of very well known high end restaurants such as Per Se, Jean Georges and Daniel but there are thousands of restaurants that offer some of the best food at a much more casual atmosphere and more reasonable price.  Below are my personal favorites that I would recommend to anyone.  Keep in mind that inexpensive in NY may be skewed compared to what you are normally accustomed to.

Inexpensive

• Vanessa’s Dumpling House – If you like dumplings, don’t miss Vanessa’s.  This place is crazy cheap, and delicious.
• The Bourgeouis Pig Cafe – The cure for your fondue cravings.
• La Palapa – Great Mexican food and of course, margaritas.

Not as Inexpensive

• Blue Smoke – A phenomenal BBQ joint run by the famed Danny Meyer.  Live jazz is played seven days a week downstairs.
• The Little Owl – Casual yet upscale dining in Greenwich Village (a neighborhood on the lower east side).
• Blue Hill Farms – A restaurant inspired by an upstate farm that sources their food only from local farms.

This is just a quick list.  Check out Yelp , CitySearch and Serious Eats for more great places.

Pizza

Because it’s such a popular question I will devote a section to Pizza.  One thing that is not and never will be decided is where the best pizza is in NYC.  Instead, decide for yourself.

• Lombardi’s – The first licensed pizzeria in NYC.
• John’s – Avoid the one in Times Square and head to the original on Bleeker Street.
• Grimaldi’s – Under the Brooklyn Bridge (on the Brooklyn side) this small place offers some of the best ‘pie’ in the city.

Keep in mind, none of these places accepts reservations, you can’t get a ’slice’ and it’s generally cash only.  It is, however worth it.

Drinks

• Dive 75 – Fun little place uptown complete with Jenga and Connect Four.
• The Little Branch – Get a lesson in all things alcohol.
• The Back Room – Enjoy your drinks in teacups, an ode to the prohibition era, in the main room.
• Death and Company – A small, dark, upscale and trendy place.
• Brandy Library Lounge – Select a glass of your favorite nightcap from what is the largest selection of brandy and scotch I have ever seen.
• The Other Room – A collection of three bars that are great for dates.

Places

There are tons of guides filled with information on what not to miss and surely you have your own list.  Here are a few places I take people who come visit.

• Grand Central Terminal – One of the icons of New York.  Check out the Campbell Apartment inside, now a bar.
• Public Library Main Reading Room – Visit the reading room
• Ellis Island – Catch the ferry at the terminal in Battery Park to visit The Statue of Liberty (reservations are required to visit her crown) and Ellis Island. Perhaps you can find your ancestors in their extensive registry.
• Central Park – Without the 843 acre park there would be 8 million crazy (crazier?) New Yorkers.
• Museums – From the Museum of Modern Art to the Museum of Natural History to the Museum of Sex and everything in between.

Resources

Google Maps (including mobile) give transit directions in NYC and if you do have a mobile version for your phone will help with walking directions as well.  There are numerous guides as well.  One favorite of mine is the Not For Tourist (NFT) Guide (Buy).

Links

• MTA – Mass Transit Authority.  The operator of NYC subways and buses.
• NJT – New Jersey Transit.  Operates Newark AirTrain and connecting train to New York Penn Station.
• Amtrak – Amtrak serves New York Penn Station.
• Newark – Newark Liberty International Airport
• La Guardia – La Guardia International Airport
• JFK – JFK International Airport

Special thanks to Elizabeth and Fu for contributions to this article.

1. I really am 13 years old in this tape, even though I look 10
2. To this day I’m not much of a swimmer, but in 1989 I could’ve been called ‘afraid’ of the water. Rafting & canoeing was a big step for me.
3. I don’t wear stupid things on my head anymore.

So without further comment, I present “The Wilderness – 1989”

1989 Wilderness Adventure in West Virginia from Shane Williams on Vimeo.

Wow…that wasn’t too bad, was it?

Here I am 20 years later, and the love for adventure that was born so long ago is alive and well. While life (house, job, responsibilities) sometimes has to come before the adventures I so badly want to take, I still manage to get outside pretty often. I’m blessed with a wife who loves the outdoors as much as I do, and I can’t wait to start teaching our son about how amazing the world can be. During the next few months things will be kind of slow, but by the end of this year I have no doubt that the entire Williams family will be exploring the outdoors once again.

Jetboil Flash

About the Jetboil Flash

The Jetboil Flash in the latest innovation from Jetboil. Like the Jetboil Personal Cooking System (PCS), the Flash is an integrated cup, stove, and heat exchanger. The integration of all the components make the Jetboil systems extremely efficient. According to Jetboil the Flash will boil two cups of water in an amazingly fast two minutes. The features and specs from the Jetboil website:

• 1.0 Liter FluxRing® cooking cup with insulating cozy, featuring Flash color-change heat indicator
• Adjustable stainless steel burner with push-button “through-cup” igniter
• Drink-through lid and insulating bottom cover/measuring cup
• Tripod base for added stability
• Available in Gold, Violet, Sapphire and Carbon
• Weight: 14 oz (397 g)
• Volume: 32 oz (1 Liter)
• Boil Time: 16 oz (1/2 Liter) = 2 minutes
• Water Boiled: 12 Liters per 100g Jetpower canister
• Dimensions: 4.1” x 7.1” (104 mm x 180 mm)

Differences Between Jetboil PCS and Jetboil Flash

On initial inspection, the differences between the Jetboil PCS and the Flash seemed fairly cosmetic to me so I inquired further. Ric Pratte from Jetboil’s PR firm gave me some more in-depth information on the updates.

The technical difference between PCS and Flash is in the burner. [The] Flash burner control is a wire “bale”, which is easier to access and operate than [the] knob on the PCS. The Flash igniter is low profile and comes up through the burner head, which means its less likely to be damaged than the PCS igniter. The burner head is solid stainless steel, as compared to the mesh head on the PCS, which is subject to shrinking over time and then falling out. Also, the Flash comes with a tripod stabilizer, which is a $10 retail value.

First Impressions of the Jetboil Flash

The Jetboil Flash is a pretty impressive piece of equipment. Stowed, all components fit within the Flash’s 32oz. cup for easy transport. The Flash is a bit heavier than the homemade alcohol stove I currently use for warm weather pursuits but the Flash’s simplicity and quick boils will no doubt be key during the colder months. In the couple boils I did to test the Flash did indeed get water to a boil very quickly, and the heat indicator on the side is a nice (though not altogether necessary) touch — it turns orange when the water reaches 140°F. I look forward to giving the Jetboil Flash a good workout in the coming months.

What We’re Looking for in the Jetboil Flash

With the Jetboil already being used by many of the top mountaineers on some of the highest peaks in the world (see Peter Whittaker mention the Jetboil as a mountaineering game changer) we anticipate that the Jetboil Flash will be an asset on our backcountry endeavors in slightly less demanding conditions.

This lightweight wool next to skin base layer should be an essential for anyone doing cold weather activities. This Athletically fitted crew neck shirt has long sleeves and offers thumb holes to keep it getting bunched up under other layers. Even giving your hand a little extra heat inside gloves. All of Stoic shirts are somewhat stylish and would look just fine spending time at the bar after making your final tracks of the day. Although I would probably wear another shirt or a vest over it to keep from being “That Guy.” But at least it won’t smell bad when you offer to buy the cute ski bunny a beverage.

Design: Ultra-fine Merino Wool base layer
Retail: $59 (Buy)
Why it’s hot:

• Athletic Cut
• Thumb Holes
• Better Looking Than Plain Base Layers

Why it’s not:

• Thumb Holes Could Be a Tad Bigger
• Lighter colored fabrics are a little see though

http://stoicgear.com