We were recently in Grand Teton National Park. Since the high mountain passes were still snow covered in June, Jana and I decided to do an overnight backpacking trip near Phelps Lake. We prefer doing some sort of loop or shuttle hike to an in and out hike, so we arranged to be dropped off a the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve near the south end of Grand Teton National Park. Overnight parking is not allowed at the LSR Preserve, so we opted to leave a car at the Death Canyon trail head, and get a shuttle from someone we were travelling with to the LSR Nature Preserve. As with all backcountry campsites in GTNP, permits are required for overnight backpacking trips.

From the nature center building, which is a wonderful new facility in Grand Teton National Park, we hiked the Lake Creek trail to Phelps Lake. This trail follows Lake Creek north to Phelps lake and is very nice hike with good views of the creek and some open meadows. Once at the south end of Phelps Lake, we hiked the Phelps Lake trail around the east side of the lake to backcountry campsite #1. The backpacking campsites at Phelps Lake have recently been relocated to up the hill from the lake, further off of the trail than the old campsites. Campsite #1 has a nice view of the lake below, and is beside an open meadow as well. Both trails were in very good shape and had good signage. The hike to Phelps Lake was 1.5 miles, and the hike around the lake to our campsite was around 2 miles.

We set up our Tarptent, and left some gear (no food) in the tent to explore the area. We went back down to the edge of Phelps Lake to enjoy the view and boil water for dinner. This also kept food and cooking odors away from camp. We added our boiled water to a package of Mountain House Hawaiian Chicken, and then stowed it in a backpack to finish cooking. We carried it with us and hiked up the trail above the lake to near the Phelps Lake overlook. This area has a very nice view of Phelps Lake and the valley and mountains beyond. We ate our dinner and enjoyed the beautiful view.

On the way back to camp, we saw several marmots among the rocks. We also saw a large aspen grove, and very large fir tree – at least 4 feet in diameter! Back at camp, we unpacked a few things and then noticed a mule deer in the meadow nearby. The deer grazed for a while, then laid down. Shortly, it got back up and grazed calmly as it moved off into the woods. The deer saw that we were there, but was certainly not concerned. It was getting dark, so we got ready for bed, stowed our food and smellable items in the bear box, and turned in. With the exploring, we had hiked around 6 miles that afternoon and evening.

Like our other trip in GTNP, some of our main equipment included the Tarptent Rainshadow 2, Therm-a-Rest Neo Air pads, a Jacks R Better Mt Rogers down quilt, and our new Montbell Extremely Light Down Jackets. Everything worked very well for this trip and we slept pretty well that night. It did rain during the night, but we stayed warm and dry. The low was around 40 F.

We woke up soon after daylight and packed up our gear. We went down to the lake to collect water and eat breakfast. From on up the shore we heard some splashing in the water. After watching up that direction, we saw that it was a moose walking in the water along the north shore of Phelps Lake. I guess he was having breakfast near the lake also, since he ate from the willows near the shore. No one else was around, and we watched the moose in silence for at least 20 minutes. We finished breakfast, loaded our backpacks, and headed down the trail.

We hiked north from the lake and arrived at the Death Canyon Trail junction. We wanted to hike up into the canyon as far as time allowed, and then we would hike back out and continue on to the Death Canyon trail head. We knew from the topographical map that there was a fork in the trail about 2 miles up the canyon. Death Canyon is a narrow, glacier-carved canyon in mountains, with steep granite rock walls on both sides. The trail was empty and we enjoyed good views of the canyon walls, the stream below, and areas of unmelted snow. After backpacking about 1.9 miles up into the canyon, we came to a large snow field covering the trail. It appeared to be 75 feet or more across, and we could not see where the snow ended. The sides of the canyon were steep, so the snow sloped quite steeply above and below the trail. It was obvious that without crampons it would not be safe to cross, so we were satisfied with our progress and turned around.

The hike back out of Death Canyon was as much or more beautiful, since the trip out of the canyon rewarded us with views of Phelps Lake and the mountains beyond. We saw both marmots and pikas among the rocks during our hike. The tall, sheer granite walls around us were very impressive. We had hiked in and out of the canyon before we met our first other person that morning. The trail became more crowded as we continued to toward the trail head, and we were glad that we had our time in the canyon all to ourselves. Our backpacking trip out this morning had been about 6 miles, for a total trip distance of 12 miles. Not all of this was logged on the GPS, especially the areas in the canyon where the GPS had trouble receiving consistent satellite signals.

The trip up to and around Phelps Lake had minimal elevation gain, so it would be a good backpacking or hiking option for families with younger kids. The hike up into Death Canyon is definitely more strenuous, but the views along the Death Canyon trail were wonderful. This was a great trip with views of the lake, mountains, and creeks. Wildlife was certainly visible, and the trails were not too crowded. We had a great time on this backpacking trip.

Product Information:

The Mountain Hardwear Micro Dome is a fleece hat, sometimes called a beanie. The manufacturer’s website describes it as a: "Lightweight, snug dome for use under a helmet or hood." I have not used it under a helmet, but I have used it under the hood of a wind or rain jacket. It is made out of very lightweight fleece. The bottom band that covers the ears is a double layer of the fleece material. The Mountain Hardwear logo is on the front. There is a seam up the back of the hat to the top, and then three seams near the top to gather the fleece material into the dome shape. The hat comes in one size.

Field Testing:

I have used the micro dome hat on my last five camping trips. Temperatures at night got as low as 22 F (-6 C) on a four night trip, and below freezing on three of the other trips. I have worn the hat many additional days when on short hikes, out walking, or just outside in the cold and wind.

I don’t like my head to get cold when camping or backpacking, so I have worn the micro dome several times for most of a day, especially when just around camp or not doing much physical activity. I have worn the micro dome while sleeping for 8 of the 9 nights I have been out with it. Even when sleeping, the seams are not bulky enough to bother me during the night. It does a great job of keeping my head warm when in my sleeping bag.

When out walking or doing light activity, the micro dome blocks the wind and keeps my head warm without any problem. I have worn the micro dome under the hood of my wind or rain jacket without any problems. It is still very easy to hear while wearing the micro dome, and it actually reduces wind noise in my ears versus not wearing a hat.

Evaluation:

The fleece is very soft. While other hats I have tried were too tight, had scratchy fabric, and were too bulky, the micro dome is comfortable and soft. I have also not noticed the a lot of sweat or dampness in my hair or under the hat, so I believe that the micro dome does a good job of wicking moisture away from me as well. It covers my ears well when it is pulled onto my head, but after some activity it can move up slightly and expose part of my ears. This is not a big problem, as I can just pull the hat back down snug again. This would not be an issue if I was wearing it under a helmet that held it in place.

One of the best features, at least for me as a lightweight backpacker, is how little it weighs. At less than 1 oz (28 g), it is one of the lightest hats I have seen. I carry only the micro dome on trips with me now, as it does the job very well and does not weigh my pack down when I am not wearing it. If I get warm, I can fold it up, and it is small enough to put in my pocket and keep right on walking.

I have washed and dried the micro dome about a dozen times during the winter season, and it still looks very good. I cannot detect any fading, shrinkage, or other issues.

Pros:

• Lightweight
• Very soft
• Comfortable for sleeping

Cons:

• Could be a bit larger to cover my ears better

Summary:

The Mountain Hardwear Micro Dome is a very soft, extremely light, fleece hat. It keeps my head warm in temperatures below freezing, and it is very comfortable while wearing to sleep at night. For me, it is a great combination of weight, fit, comfort, and cost.

- Shawn

In my case, I bought it to use for additional warmth, and to keep my sleeping bag or down quilt (more about quilts another time), cleaner. This reduces the number of times I have to wash my bulky bag or down quilt or sleeping bag. The silk has the advantage of being much lighter than other materials, and it will not retain moisture like cotton.

Product Information:

There are several sizes and styles available. In this case, the review is for the Long (Rectangular) size.

The 100% Premium Silk Liner is made from ripstop silk, and is sewn into a rectangular sleeping bag shape. According to the manufacturer’s website, it adds up to 10 degrees F (6 C) of warmth to an existing sleeping bag. It is machine washable, and stuffs into its own included stuff sack. I have the long (rectangular) size, but other sizes are available, according to the manufacturer’s website:

The silk liner can be used as a very lightweight bag by itself if temperatures are warm, or as a liner inside any sleeping bag to add warmth on colder nights.

Field Testing:

I have used this silk liner on my last four camping and backpacking trips for a total of eight nights. Temperatures at night got as low as 22 F (-6 C) on a four night trip, and below freezing on the other three trips. I have used the silk liner both inside a mummy winter sleeping bag, and underneath a down quilt.

It is difficult for me to know exactly how much additional warmth the silk liner provides. Based on previous trips when I had to wear a base layer of clothing inside my mummy sleeping bag to stay warm below freezing, I was able to use only the liner, and no base layer of clothes, to stay comfortable. I believe the 10 F (6 C) of additional warmth is reasonable.

When using the liner, I also get the benefit of it keeping my sleeping bag or quilt cleaner. The liner prevents body oils or dirt from getting onto the inside of my bag or quilt. When using the liner with the down quilt, the liner prevents some drafts from reaching me around the edges of the quilt. With either a bag or quilt, I slip my feet into the opening on the liner and pull it up to my shoulders. With a quilt, I just pull the quilt over me. The quilt does seem to stay in place, even though the liner is slightly slick. With a sleeping bag, I put my feet into the liner, then push the liner down into my sleeping bag as I pull the liner up to my shoulders. I can keep my arms out of the liner to zip up my sleeping bag. Usually, if it is cold, I will pull the liner up around my neck as well for added warmth.

I also think that having the silk liner inside my sleeping bag, which gives me the ‘bag within a bag’ system, makes the sleeping bag feel warmer by keeping warmed air around my body within the liner. When I move, my skin does not touch the inside of the bag directly, so it seems that there are fewer ‘cold spots’. With just a sleeping bag, if I move my leg or foot to an area of the sleeping bag that I had not been touching, then that area of the bag feels cold. The liner feels soft and smooth against my skin, and the silk material does not feel cold when I move around inside the liner. The liner has two side seams, and no bottom seam. Both seams are double folded, and I have not noticed feeling either of them when using the liner.

The rectangular liner is larger than a mummy sleeping bag, but the extra fabric fits fine inside the mummy bag. I have not noticed any problems moving my feet or legs around when using the liner inside a sleeping bag. The fabric is slick enough that it slides around inside my sleeping bag and does not restrict my movements.

I have washed the liner about six times. Per the instructions, I washed it in cold water and then hung it to drip dry. I have not noticed any fading or bleeding when washing the liner. I have noticed some slight stretching at the seams near the top of the bag. I think this is due to the fact that as I turn, my arms may be pulling or stressing the top portion of the seam.

I decided to contact Sea to Summit to see what they had to say about this. I received an email reply within 24 hours stating: "…I’m sorry to hear that your liner hasn’t worked out for you as well as you (or we) had hoped. Our product is 100% covered for manufactures defects—which this is clearly a case of. We sell thousands of these liners each year and see very few ever returned to us. With that being said, we would be happy to replace it for you free of charge…" They provided an RA number and shipping address with the reply as well.

So, although the seam is not torn apart or separated completely yet, I went ahead and exchanged it. Perhaps this one seam was defective. It only took 6 days from the time I mailed the defective one back until I received a brand new replacement silk liner from Sea to Summit. I was very pleased with the customer service from Sea to Summit.

Pros:

• Lightweight
• Adds warmth
• Keeps sleeping bag clean
• Great customer service

Cons:

• Somewhat expensive
• Had to return for replacement

Summary:

By using the 100% Premium Silk Liner from Sea to Summit, I am able to keep my sleeping bag or quilt cleaner which results in fewer washings. The silk liner adds warmth on cold nights and it works well under a quilt to prevent drafts. I always pack the liner when my trips may include colder weather. I look forward to receiving the free replacement and continuing to use the liner in the future.

- Shawn

In order to have a lighter cooking solution when backpacking, there are several options. First, you could just take a cook pot and build a small fire to cook with. Fuel is easily available, unless it has rained, and then you might have to settle for cold oatmeal. There are solid fuel tablet type stoves, butane canister stoves, etc.

I am an engineer, and sometimes the simplest solution is the best. I consider this to be the case with the alcohol stove. It has no moving parts, and it burns readily available denatured alcohol, which is not explosive. Isopropyl alcohol or rubbing alcohol is not recommended since it contains about 30% water and does not burn as well. Methyl alcohol, commonly available as HEET – a gas additive in yellow bottles, will also work and is easy to acquire.

Other advantages of the alcohol stove include: simple to build, easy to use, odor free fuel, safe, low cost, and environmentally friendly. There are several types of alcohol stoves including open flame, low pressure, and pressurized jet. They can be made from tuna cans, other small cans, and even aluminum soda cans. The AntiGravityGear Alcohol Stove is a pressurized jet stove made from used aluminum soda cans.

Product Information:

The stove comes by itself when ordered individually. If ordered as part of a kit, some additional accessories may be included. The basic shape looks like the bottom 1/3 of a soda pop can.

The stove has no moving parts, and is composed of two pieces that have been fitted and sealed together with epoxy and silver heat tape. The center of the stove is open on the top, and this is where up to 1 oz (30 ml) of denatured alcohol is poured into the stove before lighting. On the outside of the stove, around the middle, are a series of pin sized holes – 24 in all. As the fuel warms and begins to vaporize, the side holes become jets where the burning fuel forms a ring around the stove.

Field Testing:

I have carried the stove on many trips over the last 9 months. It has been on multi-night backpacking trips, as well Boy Scout camping trips – since I am an adult leader (Scoutmaster). It has been used in light rain, under sunny skies, during the day, and at night. Since most of the trips were in the central United States, elevations were all less than 3000 ft (914 m) during my use of the stove.

The stove is simple, so it works the same and works well every time. I typically need to boil 2 cups of water at a time. I first fill my 0.9 L (0.95 qt) pot with 2 cups (0.47 L) of water and cover it with the lid. Next, I set the stove on the optional primer tray (0.3 oz / 8 g). I put a few drops of fuel in the primer tray around the base of the stove, then I pour 1 oz (30 ml) of fuel into the middle of the stove. Next, light the stove and the primer tray. It takes about 20 seconds for the stove to get hot enough to vaporize the fuel and for the jets to light around the outside of the stove. Once the outside jets have ignited, I place the pot of water directly centered over the stove. Since the pot rests on the stove top, no pot holder or other support is necessary. On a warm day, with temperatures around 60 F (16 C), it takes about 5 minutes to boil 2 cups (0.47 L) of water with the 1 oz (30 ml) of fuel. Obviously on warmer or cooler days, or with very cold water, these burn times would change slightly.

I always boil water in my cook pot, and then mix meals in a Ziploc bag, so I don’t need to simmer or cook on low heat. This stove is on or off, there is no adjustment for the flame level or heat output.

Evaluation:

The only real issue that I found was related to stability. If the cook pot is very large, then I have to be careful to balance it carefully on top of the center of the stove. It would not take much of a nudge to dump the pot off onto the ground.

The primer tray is not necessary, but gives the stove some stability. Also, having a few drops of fuel in the primer tray helps the stove’s side jets to ignite more quickly. As with any stove, a windscreen will improve the efficiency and help the stove to perform better.

Since the stove is constructed of 2 nested soda cans, durability is quite good. I carry the stove in a small plastic container that came in the Stove Set from AntiGravityGear. This protects the stove, and fits nicely into my cook pot.

Pros:

• Lightweight
• Low cost
• Compact size
• Made from recycled materials

Cons:

• Stability is not great with a large pot
• Cannot simmer or slow cook

Summary:

This alcohol stove from AntiGravityGear is a lightweight stove that burns denatured alcohol. It is easy to setup and use, and it does not have any moving parts to break or wear out. I could not ask for anything more to heat water.

- Shawn