CRYSTAL VOICE

The following is a short film about one of Colorado's few remaining undammed rivers, the Crystal River.

NEW RIVENDELL MOUNTAIN WORKS PRODUCTS

I have been a fan of Rivendell Mountain Works for quite some time. Like many of you, I have lusted over old catalog scans and scoured eBay for the notorious Bombshelter. Once Eric Hardee and Don Wittenberger started producing the Jensen pack again I jumped at the opportunity and purchased one ASAP. Ever since then I occasionally checked in with Eric for any updates. He let me know when the day packs were getting added to the product line and I nabbed a Mariposa. Today I received a more formal RMW email blast about a new website, more products (including a killer tote bag) and a list of items coming down the pike.  I don't know about you but I will be emailing them again to help assess interest in the Bombshelter.  Check it out.

TOILETS WITH A VIEW

Mokowanis Lake privy in GNP.

Toilet in the Bugaboos on the Pigeon-Howser Col. Photo by Amanda Shale Shpeley.

Outhouse at 14,000' on Denali.  Photo by Brad Marshall.

As we venture further out and higher up stumbling upon unique toilets, privies, outhouses, etc. with outstanding views can be quite memorable.  What's your favorite wilderness water closet?  Here is a delightful photo album of high peak potties from around the world.

J.A. FALLMAN BUCKSAW

Sanborn Canoe Co, better known for their canoe paddles, just released their very own bucksaw. The J.A. Fällman Bucksaw is a lovely looking 24" packable saw that comes with it's own canvas roll-up.  If you buy the painted version you will probably need to pick a matching axe from Best Made...just sayin'.

PADDLING DOWN THE ALLAGASH

Here is some footage of a Boy Scout canoe trip in the Allagash Wilderness Waterway in the late 1950's.

CHIMNEY ROCK NATIONAL MONUMENT

Photo by duckandcover

On Friday, September 21st, President Obama added Chimney Rock to the list of National Monuments by utilizing the Antiquities Act. Chimney Rock National Monument is comprised of 4,726 acres and is located in southwestern Colorado in the San Juan National Forest. This area is extremely important to modern Pueblo Indians because their ancestors inhabited this land 1,000 years ago.  Some deduce that the Ancestral Pueblos peoples built their "great house" in order to get a front row seat for the major lunar standstill.  From the great room (built in 1076) the twin pillars of Chimney Rock frame a narrow piece of sky; every 18.6 years the full moon rises perfectly between the spires and is only visible from this vantage point.  Watch this video about the lunar standstill at Chimney Rock.

WHEN WERE YOU YOUNG?

When Were You Young? is a short film by Trevor Ware about exploring our beautiful country on his 1974 Honda CB550K for 3 years.  If this doesn't make you want to hit the road, I don't know what will.  Trevor also has an (inactive) blog but it's still a nice read.  Lastly, earlier this month Trevor was tragically hit on his motorcycle by a drunk driver and is now in a coma.  Friends and family started a hospital fund if you feel so inclined.