Charlie giving the slot canyon a boost
I recently had the honor of attending a weekend gear-testing session in Escalante, Utah, that was sponsored by Mountain Hardwear. Mingling with the reps and designers in between 8-hour hiking and canyoneering sessions opened my eyes to a few things. Among them: Escalante is quite possibly the coolest place in the world, and the people who make Mountain Hardwear tick care deeply about everything they do.
It’s not that I had ever assumed Mountain Hardwear was anything other than a high-quality company, or that I had convinced myself all the good echoes I’d heard about Escalante were false; I’d just never experienced either up close and personal. Truly, seeing is believing.
Cosmic Ashtray
The majority of each day was spent in the wilds, putting Mountain Hardwear packs to the test. On returning each night, we were given the chance to interact with the gear designers, explore different tent models, and test the comfort of various sleeping bags.
I spent my nights in the Ghisallo 1 bike touring tent and, as a biker, was extremely pleased with the design. The rear vestibule provides cover for your trusty steed in inclement weather with some room to spare. A large pack and other gear will fit nicely in the front vestibule space without blocking your access to the door. Once inside the tent, you have plenty of space to sit up or move around in your sleep. I was really happy, in a sick gear-addict way, that it was very windy the first two nights so I could see how the tent held up. I wasn’t kept awake by rustling fabric, and the structural integrity of the poles was never so much as questioned by the ripping winds. The Ghisallo is definitely the way to go if you’re looking for a solo tent that can also shelter your bike if needed. It packs compact and super light so you can easily carry more supplies or trim down to smaller pack. I am aiming to knock down the White Rim Road sometime in the near future, and this tent will be perfect.
As for the stories of the awesome people I met and how the Mountain Hardwear packs stood up to canyoneering, as well as a discussion of sleeping bag function, other tents, and some more pictures—you’ll just have to wait. On May 25th, a full article will find its way on here, and you can come back to read about the whole experience.
Boulder Pass
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Tags: canyoneering, desert, escalante, factory tours, hiking, Mountain hardwear