Cutting Up and Hemming Arc'teryx Gamma LT Pants

No doubt about it that I have short legs. My inseam is somewhere in the neighborhood of 29 to 30 inches. 

It is rare that I find a pair of soft shell pants that actually fit my leg length. Being short with thick legs does not help either (think sprinter not video gamer). I do own some Arc’teryx pants for skiing that Arc’teryx thankfully offers in a short (30”) inseam. This time around I needed a soft shell pant for trekking and finding something not super skinny tight and long proved to be challenging. The closest pant I could find was (again thankfully) the Arc’teryx Zeta LT. Fit was optimal everywhere except the leg length. 

I determined I would have to take matters into my own hands and cut these down to size. 

I spent two days searching for other pants as I contemplated cutting down the legs on the Zetas. With the clock ticking, before leaving for Patagonia, I got to work. 

Here are the steps I took:

• Determined desired length
• Marked folds with white chalk
• Cut to length
• Folded hem and used Aquaseal and paper clamps to secure
• Sewed at the top of the hem and bottom  

Losing the adjustable cuff was not an issue for my purposes.

When cutting use a new sharp blade like Olfa and a cutting mat.

I used Aquaseal to help secure the hem and prevent fraying.

Inexpensive clamping option.

2mm stitch length.

Done.

After shortening the pants I packed them up and was off. During the trip I encountered rain, sleet, and snow and the pants were outstanding and the length worked out perfect. 

Avalanche Safety: Know Before You Go

Over the past few years I've noticed the influx of people coming into the backcountry. It's been good and bad at the same time. On days where avy danger is high I have seen people going out with no beacons, shovels, let alone a clue to what is going on in the snowpack. 

On Facebook I have seen people post photos of them standing at the bottom of steep slopes prone to sliding. 

During one of my design projects I took a survey of people who recreate in avalanche terrain and was surprised by the number of people who had gear but did not know how to use it. 

I hate being the guy that says something but at the same time I don't want any of my friends to get hurt from someone else's mistake. At the end of the day we all have loved ones we want to go home to and that in itself should be plenty of motivation to take the time to learn the skills to stay safe and alive. 

Patagonia 2015 Slideshow

Last year was a busy year of traveling. I rounded out the last trip of the year with a trip to Patagonia. It was by far the most amazing place I have had the pleasure of experiencing. Here is a short slide show of some shots from the trip

If you would like to see more photos they can be viewed at my Smugmug Page.

Climbing Mount Whitney

The Climb

A small beam of light lit the path before me as we ascended into the darkness. Truthfully I was happy it was dark. If there was any sunlight my inner photo geek would be stopping every 15 seconds to take a picture. The only light for now was from headlamps and Justin had some bright 5 jillion lumen light that lit up our surroundings and quite possibly may have given me a little bit of a tan. Sunrise was about two hours away so until then my mind could focus on climbing to the summit at a pace I could maintain the entire way.

We met a great couple, from Livermore, at the beginning of the trailhead. We chatted a bit and they were cruising up the trail with us. They named us the 4 AM Club since we began our journey at that time. Over the next hour they slowly drifted off behind us. We hoped we would see them along the way since they were entertaining to talk with.  

One thing I love about hiking is the people you meet. Everyone has a story why they are out walking around in nature. We encountered many people on the trail and got to chat with a lot of great folks as well as people that were less than optimal to speak with. 

These were the different types of people we met on the trail: 

• The Great Couple: They are cute, cuddly, and just flat out fun to talk with. They encourage one another and help one another. 
• The Old Couple: They still hold hands, bicker, and love one another deeply. While they may look old, they could have crushed you on the climbs back in their prime…or they are doing it right now. 
• The Wonder Twins: Are they brother and sister or are they a couple? No one knows for sure but they have some awkward powers. Generally they look unhappy and do not greet others. This category can have subgroups for each individual. 
• The Solo Couple: They are together but just not on the trail. Generally one member of this couple is very far ahead of the other. 
• The Happy Hiker: Solo, slow, but just flat out happy to be in the outdoors. Sunburned teeth are standard for they smiling individuals.  
• The World Champion: Has someone told you how awesome they are today? Well this person will and they will automatically tell you about all their other greatnesses as you leave them behind on the trail. 
• The Selfinator: It’s all about one person and it’s not you. Completely unaware of other people on the trail. Beware as the Selfinator can be lethal when carrying a selfie stick. Best to avoid at all costs. 
• The Late Starter: Generally found resting trail side on the lower portion of the trail late in the day. With summit fever this individual is determined to climb to the top but is oblivious to the time constraints or apparent weather danger.   
• The Blue Jean Club Member: The tighter the jeans the better when the absorbent cotton fibers are stretched to their max they shed water….right? Normally jeans this tight are reserved for taught young Swedish boys but somehow made their way to this BJCM. Generally outfitted with a souvenir cotton sweatshirt with logo of current travel destination.  
• The Pack: It could be a school group, group of friends, or family. They wear matching outfits and may still have tags hanging off their brand new gear. They can be oblivious to faster traveling groups and block the entire trail so none can pass. The last person in the group is always the one wondering if the current activity is a “good idea.”

We had ascended to just past Outpost Camp when the sky was beginning to light up. I was quite happy to ditch the headlamp and see what we had been climbing up in the dark. Sunrise is by far my favorite time of day and the sunrise in the Whitney Zone was spectacular. 

Climbing with sunlight made it easier to navigate the rocky trail. We made our way up the trail past Consulation Lake towards Trail Camp. We greeted campers and picked our way through to the section they call the 99 switchbacks. Justin and I were able to maintain our pace and make it past the groups of hikers scattered along the trail. Then we encountered the Wonder Twins. I came up behind a couple and noticed the girl in front of me was doing selfie intervals. She would walk fast up the trail, video herself with her phone, slow way down, not allow anyone to pass, and repeat. After a couple minutes she finally let us by. When we passed her boyfriend he began talking to us:

WTMSWC (Wonder Twin Male Subclass World Champion): Yo, this is too easy of a trail (breathing hard).

Me: It’s not bad, the view is grea…

WTMSWC: (Interupting)…You ever climb Mt. Baldy? Way harder. This is too easy. 

Me: Oh, that’s…

WTMSWC: (Turns to Justin) You ever climb Mt. Baldy?

Justin: No. Where’s that Southern California? 

WTMSWC: Yeah. It’s way harder. This is too easy.  

As the Wonder Twins sat down to rest we happily continued on our way. As we continued upward, the elevation was beginning to play a role and I felt some symptoms of AMS coming on. We arrived at Trail Crest, which sits at 13,600 feet. After a quick break to take in the magnificent views we were ready go. Clouds were beginning to roll in and we hit the trail for the last section to the summit. 

There were a lot of groups lallygagging here and we waited patiently to pass groups of hikers. After negotiating a little traffic we made it to the final 1.8 mile stretch of trail to the summit. Little did I know but this would be the longest 1.8 miles of my life. They should have renamed it “The Never Ending 1.8 Miles” because it truly felt like forever to complete. 

At this point the trail traversed below Mount Muir and other peaks. It was technical and there were a couple spots my short legs had a difficult time getting up and over. The altitude was beginning to affect me and I had a little nausea, headache, and mild dizziness. Justin was getting the same symptoms and we knew the less time at altitude the better. The clouds darkened as we caught a glimpse of the summit before it disappeared into the gray sky. Every step forward felt like it went no where. The trail seemed to stand still until we spotted two women wearing hot pink jackets above us to give an indication of where the trail led. The oxygen molecules felt three feet apart at this point but we pressed on knowing that we were almost halfway done for the day. Thoughts of Leif filled my heart and it gave me inspiration when I needed it most. I pushed forward. Snow flurries greeted us as the temperature dropped and the wind picked up. After five hours and 45 minutes, we crested the summit of Mount Whitney at 14,494 Feet.  

I took my bag off to grab my camera, stood up, and Justin was gone. I snapped some photos for people, signed the log book, and went to look for Justin. He was inside the cabin warming up and eating some food. I joined him and forced some food down. Outside the temps and visibility were diminishing. After a few minutes we made our move and began our descent from the summit.

Snow continued to fall and the only thoughts in my head were to get to a lower elevation safely before the snow, rain, and hail made the rocks slick. The last thing we needed was an injury so far up the trail. Symptoms of AMS were getting worse and I had to slow down so I wouldn’t make any mistakes. We climbed down past groups that we had passed on the climbs. The suffering was apparent in everyone’s face and movements. It does not matter how fit you are, climbing mountains hurts everyone. And it was putting the hurt on me. We ran into the great couple from the start of the day. We chatted and wished them safe travels to the summit.

It seemed like people were running down the hills past us. Perhaps it was because I was moving so slow because my headache was pounding. Visibility improved and I was snapping a lot of photos which helped distract me from the pain and allowed me to focus on getting to a lower elevation. Finally we made it to Trail Crest and walked down the switchbacks. I began to feel better and was able to pick the pace up from crawl mode. We began to catch the people that passed us down from the summit including the Wonder Twins we saw on the way up the switchbacks. The young man held us up on the trail because his girlfriend (assuming) needed some privacy to take care of business. She emerged from behind the rocks with a hefty WAG bag. Instead of stowing it away in her pack, she carried it like she was out shopping at the mall. They started off down the hill ahead of us and at certain times I swear I was catching whiffs from the monstrosity she was swinging around. Nothing exacerbates nausea like a fresh bag of human waste. Luckily she finally let us by and we quickly passed to get downwind. 

Dark clouds engulfed the mountains and spat rain at us. Feeling better we were able to make it down through the slippery rock sections without incident. As we descended out of the alpine, the trail surface changed back to dirt. It felt like walking on carpet after pounding the rocky trail above. 

I looked up to the sky as the rain fell on my face. The sights of mountains, sounds of rushing streams, pitter patter of the rain, while hiking with a great friend pushed the experience level to 11. It was bittersweet as we approached the end of the trail. Part of me wanted the adventure to continue and the other part wanted to lay down and take a nap with a cheeseburger. 

The final steps on the trail were met with elation that we were finished. I looked at the time and it was 4PM. It was an amazing 12 hour experience. I was excited that we completed the trail and made it back in one piece. We congratulated each other as we walked off to the car in the rain. 

The Whitney Trail was an experience I’ll never forget. The alpine views are truly a sight to behold with your own eyes. I could not have done it without a friend like Justin and inspiration from Leif. Leif, you are in my prayers and my thoughts. Stay strong and have faith. There is an entire community pulling for you. 

Thanks to my friend Justin for joining me on this venture. I only have a few friends that I fully trust in the mountains if things go south. Justin is one of those friends. Thank you to Marci and Alex for hosting and feeding me beyond any expectation. 

Arriving home and hearing the girls run down the hall in search of me was a welcome sound. After lots of hugs and kisses I unloaded the car and thought to myself….wow another great day in the mountains. 

See the photos from the Whitney Trip

The Road To Whitney

The thought to climb Mount Whitney was embedded in my memories when a friend from Bend, Oregon recounted his trip up and down the mountain. I’m not sure if it was his stories that peaked my interest or just the curiosity if it was an attainable goal for me to accomplish. I’ve done day hikes but nothing close to the 22 mile distance of the Whitney Trail distance. A few days before departure, I learned that my friend, Leif’s luekemia came back and he was headed back to the hospital to begin chemo. Leif is the owner of the Fifth Season in Mount Shasta, California. His shop has outfitted countless mountaineers, climbers, skiers, and cyclist since 1977. He’s been outfitting me for years and gave me advice on what to pack for the trip. It was clear that this climb was going to be dedicated to Leif. 

With Leif’s condition on my heart I began to fill up my gear bags. The hardest part about leaving on trips is not seeing my girls (my wife and daughters). I love that my daughters stash drawings or stuffies into my bag for me to find later. It takes the edge off of not being able to hug them. It’s difficult to be away and any parent out there knows the feeling. 

Ever forget to pack something for a trip? Four hours of driving later, I pulled up to Justin’s house and realized my hydration reservoir was at home. Luckily the missing piece is readily available at any outdoor gear store so we headed out and picked one up.

My friend Justin and I used to race together on the Visenka Cycling Team back in the day. He’s an endurance junkie and has placed Top 10 in NUE races. He’s into endurance running and has slowly attempting to get my interested peaked in that area but without luck. For this trip he would be my travel and climbing company. We loaded gear into the car and headed off towards Lone Pine, California.

On the way south to Lone Pine we took a few detours to see some unfamiliar sites. The first stop would be the ghost town of Bodie in Mono County. Founded in 1876, Bodie was a booming gold mining town. When driving up the dirt road to the town it was mind boggling that they knew where to find gold in such a vast area. The rolling hills are deceiving and give no indication they sit at 8379 feet (2554 m). We walked around the abandoned buildings and peered in through windows to catch a glimpse of life in Bodie. 

From what we gathered, life in Bodie was brutal during the winters. Old photographs of town only showed the tops of chimneys poking out of the snow. The record low for the area remains at -36 degrees F. If you could survive a winter in Bodie, you were one hardy individual. 

Abandoned artifacts lay scattered everywhere. We found some interesting tools including a 100+ pound sledge hammer, the largest wrench we both have seen, and a massive table saw that held a 3 foot diameter blade. I came to the conclusion that residents of Bodie were giants. 

Soon we were off again driving down dirt roads and ended up on the nicely paved June Lake Loop. A mixture of rain and forrest fire smoke made visibility hazy at times but we were still able to make out the views and see colossal boulders sitting roadside. It was such a relaxing drive that time flew by and before I knew it we were back on 395 heading south towards our destination.     

9 miles North of Lone Pine we stopped at Manzanar, a Japanese Internment camp. The camp barracks looked to be recently built and looked clean and tidy inside. Signs sit at the location of other barracks and buildings and only give a hint of what the site truly looked like. While the camp looks nothing like what it did I could see traces of where the captives grew and maintained beautiful gardens and groves of trees. All that remains are tree trunks with their tips hacked off and lots of overgrown shrubs. Dirt paths and roads outline the grounds. We followed a dirt road to the cemetery were five graves remain and a monument, built by an incarceree, stands in the shadows of the Sierras. As the clouds and smoke loomed overhead you could feel the sadness that was once confined within the barbed wire fences.

As we drove off, the sky opened up and lit the way into Lone Pine. We picked up our day passes, checked the forecast, and headed up to the trailhead. Locating parking and the trailhead during daylight would prevent any surprises the next morning in the dark. Once we sorted out the logistics we headed back down the hill to check out the Alabama Hills. 

The Alabama Hills are best known for their rock formations that have been in many Westerns. As you drive along the dirt roads the rounded contours of the rocks transport your thoughts back to the Wild West. As you drive keep your eyes peeled for arches. They are not large but they are out there for you to find. As sunset approached we made our way back to pack and prepare for the climb in the morning. 

Justin and I got to sleep early for our 3AM wake up. Before I knew it, we were up and on the way to the trailhead. We started just after 4 AM and met people along the trail. As I looked up into the dark sky, headlamps seemed as if they were floating in the sky outlining the trail. It gave me a good indication of the ascent that awaited all that step foot on the mountain. Justin put me in front and we headed into the dark with our headlights.  

Eclipse

Wonder what it took to get these photos? Check out this video and find out:

Welcome

Welcome to the first post of this journal. This journal will contain posts about adventure, product testing, product reviews, product design, and photography. Along the way other topics will come into play but they are all very much related to the outdoors.

I've been writing at various locations and wanted to streamline the process to come from one source. I'm not sure what to future holds but imagine it will be an adventure.