Archive for June, 2011

Birdathon 2011 Teaser: Birding Pepperbox Wilderness again

Jun 29th, 2011 / 0 Comments

Deer Pond

The Onondaga Chapter of the Audubon Society held its Birdathon on the third Saturday in May again this year. I participated for the second year in a row by bushwhacking through the heart of the Pepperbox Wilderness of the Adirondack State Park for another opportunity to increase my disappointing species count from last year.

For those of you unfamiliar with this annual contest (and fundraiser), the Birdathon is an event where birders of all types break up into groups with an objective of identifying as many avian species as possible during a single 24-hour period. Although some limited prizes are awarded, the main motivation remains the joy of some friendly competition, the enjoyment of birding with some like-minded individuals and bragging rights for the number or uniqueness of the species encountered.
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Reports, Trips

Review: Leica Ultravid 8×20 binoculars

Jun 27th, 2011 / 0 Comments

Leica Ultravid 8x20 BR binocular

Compact binoculars are an ideal choice for the ardent backcountry enthusiast. Their small size and lightweight allow for easy access even when bushwhacking through dense vegetation. Leica Camera AG manufactures a perfect example of a compact binocular in the Ultravid 8×20 BR.

Leica Camera AG is an international company in the optics industry with a reputation for superior optics used in binoculars and camera lens. The company has produced innovative cameras since the early 20th century and is responsible for the first practical 35 mm camera produced intended to be compact enough for mountainous landscape photography.
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Equipment

Gear Review: Golite Tumalo Pertex 2.5-Layer Storm Pant

Jun 22nd, 2011 / 0 Comments

Golite Tumalo Pant (photo by Golite)

After an entire winter of procrastination and a swiftly approaching bushwhacking season I was left with no other choice but to find a replacement for my now ineffectual Golite Reed rain pants. I narrowed it down to two different rain pants: the Marmot Essence and the Golite Tumalo.

And the winner was….the Tumalo Pertex® 2.5-Layer Storm Pants!

The reasoning behind my choice:

With weight being about the same between the two pants and the color of both identically black, the decision was made mostly based on price. Price was especially important given my lack of experience with either product and the scarcity of information on their durability for bushwhacking purposes. Since durability was in question for both rain pants I decided to manage my total cost by choosing the one with the lowest price.
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Equipment

In Search of New Lightweight Bushwhacking Rain Pants

Jun 20th, 2011 / 1 Comment

Golite Tumalo Pant (photo by Golite)

Decisions, decisions….

After getting soaked from the knees down last summer while bushwhacking in the Pepperbox Wilderness of the Adirondacks and again this spring hiking out of Trout Pond in the Catskills, I knew I had to start shopping for a new pair of rain pants.

I put this off since last summer because I knew how much of an ordeal making the decision on a new pair of rain pants was going to be. I dreaded giving up my wonderfully lightweight and gorgeously colored Golite Reed rain pants, which were no longer on the market. These rain pants weigh only 6 ounces but have proven to be quite durable over many years of bushwhacking.
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Equipment

FBON 2011: Sleet and Freezing Rain at Trout Pond in the Catskills

Jun 17th, 2011 / 0 Comments

Ice behind Trout Pond lean-to


On April 21-23, 2011 my friend Dave and I participated in the 26th annual Frostbite Overnight (FBON). The FBON is an early spring camping trip taken the three days prior to Easter in the Catskills State Park. This year we hiked into Trout Pond in the Cherry Ridge/Campbell Mountain Wild Forest. The following article chronicles the last day of our trip including a very wet and cold hike out, breakfast at the Roscoe Diner and a sunny ride home.

The Frostbite Overnight (FBON) is all about tradition. From the date of the trip (three days before Easter), to the destination (the Catskills), to the purchase of flatbread (from the Columbus Bakery in Syracuse), the list of traditions can go on and on.
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Reports, Trips

FBON 2011: Investigating the Ruins of Mud Pond in the Catskills

Jun 15th, 2011 / 2 Comments

Mud Pond


On April 21-23, 2011 my friend Dave and I participated in the 26th annual Frostbite Overnight (FBON). The FBON is an early spring camping trip taken the three days prior to Easter in the Catskills State Park. This year we hiked into Trout Pond in the Cherry Ridge/Campbell Mountain Wild Forest. The following article chronicles the second day of our trip including a hike to Mud Pond and investigating the ruins located there, a bushwhack to a series of beaver ponds and happy hour.

We woke early on Friday morning to very cold temperatures at the lean-to on Trout Pond. The soil in a wet area adjacent to the lean-to crunched under the weight of my boots as I made my way to the outhouse early in the morning; the once soaked soil now frozen by the very low overnight temperatures. Unfortunately, the clear skies that allowed the low temperatures were now replaced with overcast skies.
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Reports, Trips

FBON 2011: Hiking into Trout Pond in the Catskills

Jun 13th, 2011 / 0 Comments

Trout Pond


On April 21-23, 2011 my friend Dave and I participated in the 26th annual Frostbite Overnight (FBON). The FBON is an early spring camping trip taken the three days prior to Easter in the Catskills State Park. This year we hiked into Trout Pond in the Cherry Ridge/Campbell Mountain Wild Forest. The following article chronicles the first day of our trip including the drive down, the hike in to a lean-to and cooking strip steaks on an open campfire. Yummy!

On April 21, we left Syracuse with light snow falling. Although the nasty departure weather adhered to tradition for the FBON, we broke another tradition with me driving instead of Dave. With just the two of us participating this year, it made sense to take the smaller vehicle to save both a little money on gas and some carbon dioxide emissions. As we progressed southward along I-81 the snow got heavier but luckily it was not sticking to the ground much.
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Reports, Trips

Frostbite Overnight 2011 Teaser

Jun 10th, 2011 / 0 Comments

Trout Pond

From April 21 through 23, 2011, my friend Dave and I participated in the 26th Annual Frostbite Overnight in the Catskill State Park. This was the fewest number of individuals to attend this annual backpacking event for many years. The last time there were this few participants the two of us hiked along the Escarpment Trail near North Lake.

The Frostbite Overnight (FBON) is an annual backpacking trip taken the three days before Easter. The trip typically takes place in the Catskill State Park in southeastern New York State. The tradition started back in 1986 when Dave and a couple co-workers journeyed down to the Catskills for a night partying in a motel room followed up by a single night of camping. As the years passed there was a great turnover in the roster of participants and the emphasis changed to less partying to more backpacking adventure.
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Reports, Trips

Is Black the New Black in Backpacking Rain Pants?

Jun 7th, 2011 / 0 Comments

Golite Reed rain pants

Recently, I was in the market for a new pair of rain pants. In fact, new rain pants were an imperative since late last summer when I discovered my old rain pants were no longer doing their duty while bushwhacking on a wet morning in the Pepperbox Wilderness. Unlike previous trips these well-worn and much loved rain pants were now leaving me good and wet below the knees.

The dread of shopping for new rain pants escalated throughout the winter months but the urgency of this purchase was hammered home in April when hiking out in a cold, torrential downpour from Trout Pond in the Catskills. It took less than 20 minutes before everything below my knees was soaking wet. What I prayed was a fluke last summer was apparently a cold, hard reality. Luckily the hike out was short enough so I was just uncomfortable and not hypothermic.
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Asides, Equipment