Monthly Archive for May, 2009

Baltoro 70 earns a stellar review from Outside Magazine’s Gear Army

Jeremy Goodman, one of Outside Magazine’s ground troop bloggers, field-tested the Gregory Baltoro 70 on one of the ultimate backpacking journeys in the world: the rugged Andes Mountains of South America. For six months, the Baltoro clung comfortably to Jeremy’s back while he lunged, scrambled, and hiked through the rain in muggy Columbia through to the harsh, unpredictable climate of Patagonia.

He thanks the Gregory gods for the Baltoro’s water-and abrasion-resistant rip-stop nylon, 4,271 cubic inches of space, multiple access points, and, of course, the move-with-you-wherever-you-go suspension system.

We knew this pack was tough, but glad to hear someone else thinks so too. To see the full review click HERE.

Published
by
Lauren
 on May 29, 2009
 in Adventure travel and Hiking and backpacking
. 0 Comments

Snow is not gone yet: What that means for early season backpacking

If you’re thinking about dusting off your pack, keep in mind it’s still early- especially for the Western Mountain regions who’ve seen a bigger than average snow year. Good for ski season, bad for early season backpacking. But, with the right gear and preparation, trekking through the occasional snowfield in the high country is not only doable, but can be adventurously fun- glissading anyone?

For obvious reasons, waterproof boots topped with gaiters are a must when gallivanting through ankle to knee deep snow.  Bringing a few extra pairs of socks will be key, especially if snow makes its way through your waterproof layers.  Also, it’s always nice to have an extra pair of dry socks to throw on at camp.

As far as alpine equipment goes, an ice axe will prove to be your most trusted companion in getting up, down, and across ice and snow. And should you lose your step, it’ll act as an anchor. Make sure you know how to use your ice axe or it won’t do you much good. Crampons act as another stabilizing tool. Generally, the 3 season hiker won’t need crampons, but light crampons may help you avoid an impromptu Bambi on ice routine. Continue reading >>

Published
by
Lauren
 on May 26, 2009
 in Adventure travel and Hiking and backpacking
. 1 Comment

Alpinisto in action, and back in action

If you’ve ever wondered what it might be like to climb in Patagonia, this shot’ll give you some perspective. You’ve got to be motivated, accomplished and - truth of the matter - willing to suffer a lot more than have fun to get up anything in this land of amazing spires, perfect granite and famed horrific weather. 

Working with our French distributor, Gregory co-sponsored a team of super accomplished alpinists/search-and-rescue team members from France earlier this year who were headed to Los Glaciares Park, better known for its Fitzroy massif and what some call the climbing world’s most alluring peak, Cerro Torre. While those two are the better-known summits there, the surrounding the small village of El Chalten is a sea of world-class climbing.

The team (who took this shot) went down with a goal of making it up multiple established routes in the area. Since they’d be moving fast in short windows of weather (the way it goes down there), Gregory outfitted them with Alpinsto 50 packs, a classic 50-liter alpine-climbing pack in the Gregory line that has a removable bivvy pad and can be stripped of its frame sheet and padded waist belt for the summit push.

However, fan of the Alpinisto 50 might recall there used to a smaller version of this pack, the Alpinisto 35. Given solid demand in Europe and parts of North America for a smaller, well-built, more rucksack-style pack tailored for the alpine world, look for a significantly redesigned and upgraded version of the Alpinisto 35 to reappear this fall.

Check back soon for a more full report on the routes this crew attempted in Patagonia, as well as some more gratuitous climbing shots.

Published
by
Dave
 on May 20, 2009
 in Gregory world and Sponsorships
. 1 Comment

All Aggressive n Whatnot…

…that was the catch phrase of my time in Sacramento while shooting for the new product line.  Along with Tim Kemple and BckWld we made some amazing media content of the latest and most amazing packs of Gregory’s.  The Fusion line is something I am VERY proud of and would like to get EVERYone psyched up and ready for a very innovational and functional pack.  I helped design these bad boys and I am VERY pleased with the turn out.  Here are some photos of our time in Sacramento, Tahoe, and the Bay.  What a trip!!!!!  img_0136.jpg img_0143.jpgimg_0159.jpgimg_0204.jpgimg_0205.jpgimg_0210.jpgimg_0451.jpgimg_0172.jpg   Right before I left for this amazing trip I took down the first ascent of an amazing boulder problem I called Bovice.  Enjoy!!!    Bovice from Joey Kinder on Vimeo.

Published
by
JoeKindKid
 on May 17, 2009
 in Uncategorized
. 0 Comments

Where’s the camo?

OK, it’s a valid point.

With the exception of special-run packs over the years that our founder has built for the military (and we really can’t tell you any more about that than that), none of Gregory’s packs are available in camouflage.

However, despite camo being a key feature in a lot of packs that sell in the hunting and fishing market, that didn’t stop the venerable Field and Stream (winner of this year’s National Magazine Award for general excellence in its circulation category, by the way) from giving props to the way Gregory packs carry, and to one of its newer and more versatile day packs, the Z35, on its blog. It also didn’t stop them from giving us a hard time for not building packs in camo patterns.

And yeah, we hear ya.

Cool thing, though, is that Deputy Editor Jay Cassell points out that versatile features on the Z35 would allow it to work great for hunting (save for the lack of camo). And we like to hear that feedback; the R+D team works hard to envision all the different uses our customers might use their Gregory pack for - hiking to hunting, snowboarding to climbing.

So it’s nice to hear that feedback one of the authorities on hunting, the same month that the Z35 was called out by Backpacker Magazine (and, incidentally, another National Magazine Award winner, in this case for their forward-thinking web site and feature writing) as one of the best-carrying days packs that’s big enough to also work for a light overnight trip.

We do know that Wayne knows where to find camo fabrics …

Published
by
Dave
 on May 15, 2009
 in Media
. 0 Comments

Into the Big Blue yonder

With a new series of hydration packs out this spring and a relatively new location in Sacramento, we thought it’d make sense combine those things and get involved with a local community race or two (local being the Bay Area up to Tahoe, the beauty of being in between the coast and the mountains).

Thus, Gregory is now a sponsor of the Big Blue Adventure Series, a group of 20 multi-sport races and events in central/northern California, Oregon and even Idaho that started last month and run through September (OK, we’ve got a loose definition of local here in the Western U.S.).

These kinds of races are great motivational tools, whether your goal is to get out there and get in shape by training for an event, or whether you’re a more serious competitive athlete. Either way, regional events like these are awesome outdoor community builders. And they’re a great way to train for a goal. More than anything, though, they’re a great way to combine fun, exercise and being outdoors. And that’s always the point, right?

Big Blue’s even posted some training tips for people looking get into multi-sport racing, so there - no excuses not to get out there.

Published
by
Dave
 on May 13, 2009
 in Events and Sponsorships
. 1 Comment

Headin’ down south

This weekend is Appalachian Trail Days, and few of the Gregory crew, including founder Wayne Gregory and George McCloskey of  ‘Ask George’ fame, will be on hand representing Gregory. And having a good time, of course.

If you’re not in the know on Trail Days, it’s an annual hiking/backpacking festival in Damascus, VA, which is roughly the mid-point on a thru-hike in of  the Appalachian Trail. Basically, thru-hikers past and present, as well as a variety of outdoor and backpacking fans in general, gather for a weekend celebration of all thing AT, backpacking and outdoors. Pretty much everybody gets into the spirit.

It kicks off this Friday, May 15, and runs through Sunday.

Gregory has gone each year for many years, and helps hikers and backpackers on the scene repair and fit packs. And, it’s just nice to be a part of a celebration that’s so much a part of what we’re all about. Wayne Gregory, George and prototype/sample sewer Nick Kelso will be hauling down an industrial sewing machine to make any trailside repairs, swap out waist belts and harness on packs (you know, if you, say, lose 20 pounds on the trail), fix broken buckles and zippers, etc. Yeah, we build the most durable packs around, but months on the trail will take its toll on anything.

Along with being a meeting place for people thru-hiking the AT each year, Trail Days is also a reunion of sorts for people who’ve hiked the route in the past, and there’s also tons of events. For a complete listing, check out Trail Days online.

Published
by
Dave
 on May 12, 2009
 in Uncategorized
. 0 Comments

How do you pack a backpack when you’re carrying a bear-proof food canister?

We got a note from Charles recently, who’d seen the ‘Ask George’ post on how to pack your backpack, and he had a great question: How does carrying a bear-proof food canister affect how you pack a backpack, and what’s the best way to go about carrying one of these blocky canisters?

This is an especially pertinent question, given that some national parks are requiring backcountry travelers to carry bear-proof food canisters, and whether or not you’re required to do so, they’re a great option for keep your food safe and not habituating bears to human food (which can make them aggressive toward people), especially when you’re traveling in areas where there aren’t a lot of trees from which to hang your food (ie. above treeline or in places where tall trees don’t grow).

Here’s what George had to say:

Carrying a bear canister can definitely be cumbersome, and adds an element to think about when packing a pack, but can absolutely be a key thing to carry, and we often do here in the Sierra Nevada.  Carrying one of these canisters will add volume, often requiring you to use a pack with a little more volume as a consequence. 

When I carry a bear canister, I typically am unable to carry a lightweight pack (such as our Z55), and will typically need a more traditional pack (such as our Palisade 80).  Even the good-sized Baltoro 70, although it will fit most bear canisters, will be rather tight with a few days worth of gear (especially if it’s cold and you’re carrying a lot of cold-weather gear). One thing I do to create space is carry most if not all of my food items within the canister while on the trail.  This will help keep food organized and save space.  Bear canisters are also a good way to store trash, though you may want to keep separate from food for obvious reasons.  Continue reading >>

Published
by
Dave
 on May 8, 2009
 in Ask George and How to...
. 5 Comments

It’s spring and spring means … skiing (some places anyway)

For a lot us, spring is on the horizon and on the mind.

But for folks in more mountainous parts of the northern hemispheres - Rockies, Alps, Sierras, etc. - it’s still the tail end of ski season, and this time of year can often bring some stellar days on the planks. There’s nothing quite like skiing corn snow in the morning and putting on shorts and flip-flips in the afternoon. Really.

The Utah-based FeedTheHabit crew are among those still thinking skiing. Though they’re also already thinking trail running and biking too, as you’ll see if you hit their blog, which is sort of a collection of all things adventure-sports oriented, from gear reviews to musings on their Wasatch surroundings.

After a season of use, Kendall Card of FTH (seen here about to get the goods) posted a review of the Targhee ski pack recently, giving it some nice props for how well it carries and a few of its unique features, like its ski-carry system. These boys seem to work in a lot of skiing despite professional careers, putting up FTH posts, and family life, so they definitely know their gear.

Now we’ll just have to get their brains to move on from winter, which, well … if you live in the Wasatch, skiing in May is probably A-OK.

Published
by
Dave
 on May 5, 2009
 in Media
. 1 Comment