biv·ouac
1 : a usually temporary encampment under little or no shelter
2 a : encampment usually for a night b : a temporary or casual shelter or lodging
Minimalists, who are a hearty bunch, prefer an almost ascetic style in their backcountry shelter setups, and while we may not all ascribe to the quick, light, and often, solo ethos, the minimalist way can be exhilaratingly liberating. Whether you’re planning to make record time on a trail or want the security of an emergency backup shelter, a bivouac is an essential piece of gear for every backpacker. That said, here are a few that we like ranked from ultra-minimalist to more rugged expedition grade designs:
MSR E-Bivy
Lift-Line Etiquette
By: Jeb Admire | February 26th, 20102 Comments »
Lining up at the Canyons Ski Resort (mind the gap)
I lived in Germany for a couple years in the ’80s, and when I was ten, the folks took me on a ski trip to Austria. While I basically love everything about Austria—the smaller, more sophisticated and less pretentious version of its northern neighbor—I was amused and disturbed by the behavior of some of the locals in the lift line. It’s possible that I’m so sensitive to lift-line etiquette now because of the pole-whacking, one-piece-pulling, general anarchy that I experienced my first time at Stubaital. Don’t get me wrong—I enjoyed mulling about the lifts in Gulmarg, India (when they worked) and Zakopane, Poland (Perogis aplenty), and I’m fine with being herded into the tram at Snowbird, UT, but I will never forget the unruly Austrians hitting each other’s poles and sneakily unclipping bindings to cut ahead in line. With that in mind, here are six guidelines to remember when you are sharing the lift line with fellow winter-sports-inclined hominids.
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Tags: humor, skiing
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