Gear Testers Wanted for Cocona Fabrics

Cocona Fabrics is currently taking applications for the Cocona Xcelerator Test Team.  Cocona Fabrics, found in such brands as Marmot, Mammut, and GoLite, is looking for 1000 outdoor types to test out their new fabric called Xcelerator.

Apply to become a gear tester at Cocona’s site where you will be asked to describe your experience with the outdoors, list any notable outdoor gear you currently own, describe your favorite piece of outdoor gear, and answer several questions about your familiarity with blogs, twitter, and other Internet platforms.

Gear Testers Wanted for Outside Magazine

Outside Magazine is currently looking for volunteers for their Gear Army to review hiking and running shoes, equipment, and apparel.  Applicants must submit a sample review of a product that they currently own as well as a list of qualifications.  In order to be selected, testers must not be affiliated with any outdoor company.  Visit Outside’s Gear Army for more details.

Inspired by Backpacker Magainze’s column Dirbag/Gourmet, Dirtbagger Guide is introducing a new category of posts – The Dirtbag Diner.  We can’ guarantee that out recipes and tips will be as gourmet as Backpacker but we will say that ours will be CHEAP and PACKED with all the fuel you need for your dirtbaggin’ pursuits.

We recognize that (like everything) there is a range of dirtbags.  There are many who can’t afford much more than institution-sized bags of rice and beans and a ton of weekend warriors touting their Coleman 2-Burners and a sample of fresh veggies from this week’s CSA.  We hope to provide recipes and creative tips for both ends of the spectrum while keeping in mind foods that are good for the body as well as being good for the community and Earth.

While we are gathering our recipes together check out the links below to get started on planning your meals for that Spring roadtrip:

One Pan Wonders - Plenty of hiking and backpacking meals that can be made in one pot or less.

Trail Chef: 8 Dirtbag Dinners – Easy meals using 3 ingredients or less.

Broke Ass Gourmet – The ultimate recipe blog for foodies on a severely limited budget.

Be forewarned as Nordic Skiing is only for hardcores. No amount of experience skiing flawless Utah powder fluff can compare to the balance and agility required for descending a 45-degree slope with your quads a spazzin’ on a pair of edgeless, skinny sticks. Not to mention the amount of mental focus and poise needed for hitting a kicker with your heels flopping about as seen below.

Photo courtesy of Szymon Nitka

I have been trying to cut back on expenses lately in anticipation of three huge trips I have in the works for this year (Spanish school in Central America, dirtbagging through Hawaii, trekking through Patagonia, and not to mention a ton of climbing and backpacking trips throughout the west) and decided to take the challenge.  I have seriously minimized my expenses in the last year but am still wondering how I can reduce my spending further.  I thought I was super frugal but four days into the fast I realize I had been spending more than I had thought. So give it a try and abide by the following rules:

Rules of the 21-Day Financial Fast

• Only Purchase the Bare Necessities
  • Essential items like food and medicine
  • Essential personal items like toothpaste, shampoo, etc.
  • Essential items for work such as a work uniform.
  • The means no going out to eat, no going to the bar, and not stopping for coffee.
  • No gifts.
• Only use cash for purchases (no plastic, even debit cards)
• Don’t window shop or go to the mall (does that mean REI?)
• No online shopping or browsing through retail catalogs

There is something about paying with cash that makes you realize that you are actually spending money.  Paying for gas with cash the other day made me cringe.  When I pay with plastic, even though it is usually my debit card, it really doesn’t feel like cash.  Seeing all that cash leave my hands to pay for gas was painful and totally made me think about how much I have been driving lately.  Oh and that urge to stop for coffee is pretty rough – I wonder if it will dull after three weeks of this.

I am just glad I have a stockpile of beer in the fridge and several bottles on the wine rack because I don’t think Singletary would buy the idea of booze as an essential.  It fuels my creativity and is thus an essential for me but I am going to see if I can go the three weeks without purchasing any beer or wine, but I may need a bottle of champagne for that brunch I am hosting this Sunday – or do I?

If you give it a try – leave a comment to let me know how you do.  I am curious what types of free things you find to do to keep yourself entertained for all 21 of those days.

Also check out these resources about other ways to reduce your expenses and build up that travel fund.

Ways to Save Money for Travel

28 Ways to Save Money For Traveling

Drastic Ways To Save Money For Long-Term Travel

Create a Sustainable Lifestyle: 5 Ways to Trim Living Expenses

How to Save Money For Travel

From the Matador Network:

“we publish stories, photography, video; we raise questions and share ideas and information in a way that isn’t bounded by geography or culture but ripples out from one traveler to another worldwide. Over time, these connections, dialogues, and relationships are affecting positive changes and creating new opportunities in the real world.”

The Colorado and Green Rivers divide Canyonlands National Park into 3 distinct districts, The Needles, Island in the Sky, and the Maze. Although each district of the park is adjacent to the next they are separated by hundreds of miles by road. The rivers and their tributaries have carved out innumerable canyons, dizzyingly vertical cliffs, and incredible panoramas.

The Needles district, named for its red and white needle-like pinnacles, offers sixty miles of interconnecting trails with most trails rated from moderate to difficult. To get to Chesler Park, leave you car at the Elephant Hill trailhead and descend into Elephant Canyon. Continue hiking for 3 miles over slickrock and dry gulches to reach the expansive meadow called Chesler Park.

Drop your pack at the campsite and take a breather while taking in the expansive views of the brightly colored sandstone spires that completely surround Chesler Park. Set up the tent and kick back with a worn copy of Abbey’s Desert Solitaire

Rise early to watch the sun cast all sorts of colors over the brightly colored pinnacles and head out to explore the expansive trail system that surrounds Chesler Park. Definitely check out the Joint Trail – a trail winding through a series of narrow and cavernous fractures in the rock.

Backcountry Permits for Canyonlands National Park

Make sure to secure a backcountry camp spot in advance if visiting the park during peak Spring and Fall seasons. Backcountry permits are required for all overnight camping and are obtained from the National Park Service here. As of fall 2009, backpacking permits cost a flat fee of $15 for a group of up to 7 people.

Best Season to Backpack into Chesler Park

Spring and fall are ideal times for backpacking into Chesler Park. Permits are more difficult to obtain at this time, so make sure to reserve a campsite at least a month ahead of time. Summers tend to be too hot and water sources are unreliable, but winter is an absolute stunning time to visit Chesler Park with the contrasts of the snow, blood red rock, and vivid blue skies. It is highly likely that you will have the meadow entirely to your self and have your choice of campsites. Winter days are usually comfortable and sunny, but you should be prepared for freezing conditions at night.

For an awesome guide to the trails around Canyonlands National Park (and the rest of Utah) – check out David Day’s Utah’s Incredible Backcountry Trails.

Early season snows have seen first tracks all over the West.  Check out these amazing shots of the first runs of the year at Snowbird Ski Resort here.

Still enjoying the lovely fall weather, I drove up to Independence pass outside of Aspen yesterday to try to get my stoke on for winter.  Here are some views atop the Continental Divide.  Bring it on!

There are many definitions of dirtbag out there, but for the terms of this website we are using the word dirtbag to describe the dreamer, adventurer, conventional dissenter, uber cheap, and sometimes well-worn traveler. The new dirtbag has evolved into an ambitious, eco-conscience, cooperative individual from its dirty, unkempt, and contemptable roots.

1. You get up at 5 am and sneak out of the campsite before the camp host gets up instead of waking at a more reasonable hour and risk having to pay for the site.
2. You buy a box of wine or a 6-pack of tall boys rather than spending money at the bar.
3. You are on an all expense paid trip for work and you cook dinner outside your hotel room so you can pocket the per diem.
4. You know the camping limits and rules of every major BLM recreation area.
5. You consider a natural hot spring a shower.
6. You can wrap anything in a tortilla and have perfect wrapping skills.
7. You have a particular adoration for Wet Wipes.
8. You can sleep peacefully basically anywhere (bivy sack in a rainstorm, a picnic table or the backseat at a rest area).
9. You catch free wireless at the library rather than the coffee shop because you don’t have to buy a cup of coffee.
10. You are constantly scheming up ways to quit your day job and never have to work again.

This post was cross-posted at dirtbagwriter.com.

With excellent climbing and cheap and cozy camping – Maple is a great place for the weekend or a week long visit.

Rock Climbing Routes in Maple Canyon

Maple Canyon is by far one of the most unique places to sport climb in the US. The rock is made up of hundreds of thousands of cobbles – small rounded rocks from the size of marbles to basketballs that were all layered and smooshed together quite a few moons ago.

Maple has routes for every climber from chill, well-protected 5.8-5.10 routes in the Maple Corridor to crazy overhanging 5.13s in the Pipe Dream. Many of the routes are super long and you tend to have to touch several of the cobbles before finding the right ones making Maple an ideal place for endurance training. Check out a free topo of the area at Dr. Topo’s.

Camping in Maple Canyon

Maple Canyon has a forest service campground with 12 sites that run $8/night. The campsites are equipped with picnic tables, fire rings, and grills and are large and can accommodate several tents. There are pit toilets but there is no drinking water available.

It is sometimes difficult to get a campsite on weekends in the summer so it is advisable to try and make a reservation here. There are some primitive sites along the road before getting to the campground but have noticed that they have recently been numbered and unsure if that means they now require a fee.

Best Times to Visit Maple Canyon

Climbing season in Maple Canyon runs from spring to fall (and ice climbing in the winter). Fall and spring is essentially perfect in Maple Canyon. Summers can be hot but the Maple Corridor and Box Canyon offer some cool shade.

Directions to Maple Canyon

From Salt Lake City, head south on I-15 until you get to Nephi. Take exit #225 to Manti/Ephraim and travel east on Highway 132. Once in the town of Fountain Green take a right on 400 South and you should start to see some brown signs for Maple Canyon. Travel about 6 miles on this road until you see a sign and turn right on Freedom Road. Follow the signs all the way to the canyon.

Other Helpful Info

• Closest Wi-Fi – McDonalds in Ephraim (about 30 minutes away) Anyone have any better ideas?

• Closest Grocery Store – Fountain Green General Store (downtown Fountain Green)

• Showers – Burns Brothers Ranch and RV Resort (located 1 mile south of Fountain Green Utah on highway 132)

Check out her blog for details of her journey, along with helpful information about launching a freelance writing career, and inspiration for adopting dirtbagging full-time.

Do what you love. Know your own bone; gnaw at it, bury it, unearth it, and gnaw it still. ~Henry David Thoreau