Reviews

Therm-A-Rest NeoLoft Sleeping Pad  The Therm-A-Rest® NeoLoft pad has too many features to cover here, but the two that stand out for me are the side rails and the super soft surface material. The side rails keep you in place if you twist and turn in the night, like I do, so that you stay right where you want to be: on …

Positively Uncivilized                             By Rena Priest, Raven Chronicle Press, 2025 Studying the epigraph to 2021-2023 Washington poet laureate Rena Priest’s new essay collection, “Positively Uncivilized,” is a worthy endeavor. 19th-century journalist Ambrose Bierce expands the definition of “positive” to mean “mistaken at the top of one’s voice.” …

This winter I’ve spent a lot of time running. The Chuckanuts have been their usual mix of wet roots and mud—a good test for any trail shoe. If you’ve spent time in an Altra Lone Peak (and plenty of folks have), the Topo Ultraventure 4 compares nicely. Both offer a roomy toe box that lets your toes spread out, but …

  Gossamer Gear LT5 Carbon Trekking Poles Guest review by Gary Malick I started using hiking poles years back when I was having a little knee issue. Ever since then, they have always been with me on a hike or backpacking trip. The Gossamer Gear LT5 3-piece trekking poles are as light as a feather (only 4.9 oz per pole!). …

The Black Diamond Cirque 35 ski pack makes a strong case that simplicity doesn’t mean compromise. In a world full of feature-packed gear, its biggest strength is knowing what to leave out. At 35 liters, the roll-top main compartment gives you flexible storage; roomy enough for a long day touring but stripped of unnecessary bulk, so it stays planted on …

In Timberline’s Embrace                                  By Jean L. Waight, Resource Publications, Eugene, Oregon, 2025 If we are fortunate, many of us have a special mountain place that is our spiritual home, a place we return to over and over, where we become our true selves.  Bellingham …

MSR Hubba Hubba™ LT 3-Person Backpacking Tent The new Hubba Hubba™ LT-3 tent from MSR delivers an amazing amount of interior space at an impressive weight of only 4 lbs., 13 oz. One gets used to tent manufacturers overstating the roominess of their tents, but the LT-3 genuinely provides elbow room (and sufficient space for wider sleeping pads) for three …

Pacific Harvest: A Northwest Coast Foraging Guide                                                    By Jennifer Hahn, Mountaineers Books (2025) In “Pacific Harvest,” author Jennifer Hahn takes us on an eye-opening journey through Pacific Northwest ecosystems. A teacher of sustainable wild food …

We’ve always said the best adventures start with happy feet. With the retirement of our friends at BBay Running and Boardworks, we’re stepping up to keep the local running and riding scene thriving by adding performance running gear and a brand-new snowboard department to the mix at Backcountry Essentials. Our snowboard lineup is ready for whatever kind of rider you …

Conservation Confidential: A Wild Path to a Less Polarizing and More Effective Activism                                                                       By Mitch Friedman. Latah Books (2025) I’ve known Mitch Friedman since the early …