Backcountry Beacon

Every spring, for the past four years, a special event has been taking place in the otherworldly expanse of southern Utah, near the town of Escalante. Outdoor industry retail representatives from across the country are brought together to explore a land defined by geological wonders, scattered with Native American ruins, and full of wisdom-laden locals. Sprinkle in some canyoneering, hiking, and fly fishing expeditions followed by interactive sessions with the employees and gear designers, and you get the ultimate feedback environment for a line of outdoor products— Mountain Hardwear Basecamp 2010.

Having yet to set foot on the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument or interact directly with Mountain Hardwear, I was anxious to jump in and see what both were all about.

My co-worker, Ashley Tucker, and I blasted through gaps in snow squalls and rain storms on the way into the center of the state, eventually arriving to windy, but dry conditions at Escalante Outfitters. We arrived in the afterglow of the first day’s activities and were greeted warmly by Mountain Hardwear employees, other industry folk, and deliciously cold beers that immediately washed the long drive into the past.

After meeting some people around the campfire and enjoying a few real beers (Utah is famous for watery imposters), I snagged one of the last unoccupied tents at the campground, the Ghisallo 1 bike touring tent. It was the perfect shelter to test out for an avid mountain biker like myself. I stashed my 45-liter pack in the front vestibule with plenty of room to spare and loaded the interior of the roomy solo tent with a laptop bag, sleeping pad, and Spectre SL 20 Sleeping Bag. I hadn’t brought my trusty steed with me, so I took a look at the rear ‘garage’ vestibule that is designed to shelter your bike from wet weather. There would have been ample space for my XC mountain bike and a few other pieces of gear. After imagining how much I would love to take the Ghisallo along on a White Rim Trail ride I’m planning, I fell asleep in anticipation of the next day’s activities.

Waking up to a warm, cloudy day in the desert was a relief after leaving behind the cold rain and snow in Park City, Utah. I drew a Fluid 32 Backpack from the large stash of Mountain Hardwear packs to see if it could withstand the eight-hour hike we were about to embark on. While switching over my hydration reservoir and other items, I was able to check out some new design elements conjured up by product manager Erik Hamerschlag.

Clark LaCatoure, MHW’s Brand Evangelist, pointed out that the Fluid had a really helpful feature they call On-The-Fly compression. It consists of a series of compression straps that cinch your gear into the cradle of the pack’s suspension as you adjust your hip-belt. The pack could easily be used for ultralight backpacking excursions as well, so my day’s worth of water, food, and gadgets benefited greatly from the added stability.

Each of us armed with a different Mountain Hardwear pack to put to the test, my group set out with Sean from Escape Goats guide service. His trusty SUV transported us to the trailhead where everyone loaded up on water and coated themselves in sunblock before embarking on our journey. Destination: The Cosmic Ashtray.

We crossed a washout area before picking up a small, winding path that led us into a system of red, white, and orange sandstone slot canyons. The lower part of the hike was highlighted by the curves of these formations and a few minor obstacles that required some spider-like maneuvering.

Stopping short of our cosmic destination for some well-deserved lunch, I was surprised to find that my back wasn’t saturated with sweat, which normally happens when I wear a pack on a desert hike. I realized throughout the day that the Fluid 32 had an extremely comfortable suspension, but I had been too busy taking in the sweeping vistas to notice how well it breathed.

Looking out into the moonscape, we spotted our final goal bulging out from the Earth in front of us. We hiked another mile or so over Navajo sandstone lined with Moqui marbles. Reaching the top of a white dome, I was able to catch a glimpse of what we had been seeking. What looked like a large body of water from above proved to be a bowl occupied by a sea of wind-rippled orange sand. We climbed down a sandy rock face with the help of chiseled hand and footholds. Waiting for us in this ocean of sand was a titanic rock formation that eerily resembled the head of a grinning alien. Cosmic indeed.

Returning from our extra-dimensional travels, we reached Escalante Outfitters in time to catch a presentation by Erik Hamerschlag that filled in the finer points of the new pack line.

The Fluid Series packs feature the Coolwave suspension system, which fits comfortably and consistently while maintaining open, cooling air channels. Inside, a Hardwave corrugated frame sheet encourages vertical play for better fit and increased flexibility. While remaining dynamic on the Y axis, the corrugation prevents horizontal deformation. This means that the load of the pack can’t change the shape of the back panel, ensuring the preservation of the pack’s excellent fit and stability. Add in some raised, ventilated foam pads for extra comfort and breathability and you get the sweat-fighting comfort of the Fluid series.

From my experience with the pack on one of the most strenuous hikes I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing, I could tell that Erik’s and Mountain Hardwear’s strict adherence to utilizing the best materials and most durable construction techniques had paid off with the Fluid Series. If you’re a day hiker or ultralight gram-counting maniac, you should keep a close eye on the Fluid packs over the next few years. The continuing battle to perfect a balance between weight and comfort is sure to spur exciting new features in the line.

Exhausted from a full-day hike and an overload of scenery, I opted out of the legendary bonfire and party that followed dinner. The next day was to be filled with a technical canyoneering adventure guided by Rick, the owner and resident badass of Excursions of Escalante, and Angus, an experienced climber and canyoneer.

The day started with our group standing on the edge of a 300-foot rappel into the gaping mouth of the Egypt-2 slot canyon. Considering I hadn’t been climbing in a few years, I was a bit nervous to go over the edge. You can’t forget how to rappel, right? Watching the first few people go over, I knew I had to jump on the rope before I let my mind get the best of me. By the time I hit the bottom third of the rope, I was done being nervous and ready to catapult into the rest of the day.

The group was packed with experienced climbers and people who were willing to go the distance, so Rick decided to take us on a two-canyon escapade instead of the normal one. We all quickly picked up the basic canyoneering techniques that would help us maneuver through the obstacles ahead. Slinking through tight cracks, down climbing tricky faces, and bridging areas that were too tight to walk through, we eventually climbed out of Egypt-2 and descended into Bobo.

This smaller canyon was filled with many washed-out pot holes which had to be bested using slings for support and spotters that created footholds where necessary. While we didn’t encounter any really deep water, we did find our way into a few holes filled with calf-deep liquid and sandy mud. Even though it would make the rest of the journey’s slick rock footholds tenuous at best, it was pretty refreshing. Some people did everything they could to avoid these pools but there was no way around getting your feet wet. In what seemed like a short period of time, we reached wider canyon walls and an open path into the desert. Our short hike back to the car was highlighted by the discovery of an ancient arrowhead before we pulled up the rope from the first rappel and headed back to town.

Exploring those canyons with like-minded compatriots and our seasoned guides is not an experience I’ll soon forget. Everyone was still glowing when we got back to the outfitters, just in time to learn about Mountain Hardwear tents and sleeping bags from product manager Chris Hilliard.

The campground was littered with what must have been every tent model Mountain Hardwear produces, and Chris walked us through the different design aspects and thought processes surrounding each of them. It was very clear that the concepts applied to their high-end mountaineering equipment were integrated across the entire product line wherever possible. While you may not be able to use your Mountain Hardwear backpacking tent for a winter alpine expedition, you can be sure you’ll get the same rugged performance in a design that fits your needs.

A great example of this is the Skyledge 2.1 Tent. This lightweight backpacking tent uses the same super-durable floor material, 70-denier nylon taffeta 3000mm PE, as the EV 3 Expedition Tent. A 3000mm PE coating is used because it is three times more abrasion resistant than the normal PU coatings used in many tents and won’t absorb moisture over time. The Skyledge also features Mountain Hardwear’s burly Evolution Tension arches for superior structural integrity, two doors for easy access, and vestibules that provide plenty of storage space.

As the wind picked up in intensity we moved inside the Space Station to get the skinny on sleeping bags. While I love my mummy bag, there are times when I’d like to have a bit more room to move around. A new synthetic bag that promised to fulfill this fantasy was the welded ExtraLamina 20. Its construction prevents insulation from compressing and forming cold spots while providing luxurious comfort with its wide, semi-rectangular cut. Chris also introduced us to the Pinole 20 synthetic sleeping bag, which lives at an unbelievable price point for a 20-degree bag—only $80. While it obviously can’t match the expedition down bags and their functionally waterproof construction, the Pinole is perfect for three-season camping and its stuff sack features a microfleece lining that can be used as a pillow.

After filling up on information and another awesome dinner, Mountain Hardwear athlete Mike Libecki presented us with some videos highlighting his recent climbing expeditions. The second video outlined a trip to the exotic island of Socotra in the republic of Yemen. Mike and his climbing partner struck out in search of the highest rock faces they could find in an unfamiliar alien landscape. With the help of local guides they were able to summit two of the most remote granite faces in existence. Fittingly, a surprise was waiting for them on one of the summits. A cairn and some stacks of rocks that resembled burial sites populated the supposedly untouched peak. Instead of seeming upset about the fact that some local tribesman had already bagged the first ascent on a face he had worked so hard to conquer, Mike seemed in awe of their accomplishment.

A deep passion for life and adventure flowed out of this video, plucking a chord inside me that had been reverberating for days. Shortly after the video, Dave McGraw and Crow Wing, a band that had first played together at Escalante Outfitters, dived into a set that would last until midnight. I stood in the corner watching locals, Mountain Hardwear employees, and my fellow adventurers slowly merge into an ecstatic throng on the dance floor. While I was busy appreciating the shimmering room before me, the full experience of the past few days almost knocked me to the ground. Finally coming to my senses, I jumped into the mix for the last song or two.

In just a few days I had learned more about a major brand and an epic destination than I could have ever hoped for. The beautiful canyon country around Escalante is somewhere I’ll visit for years to come (I’ve already been back since), and being able to test top-notch gear in a stunning backcountry setting not only provided a memorable personal experience, but it helped us gain a new facet of product knowledge to share with Backcountry.com customers.